WE HOPED and prayed that the Carlos Tevez saga would finally blow itself out after West Ham agreed to pay Sheffield United �26million over five years as compensation, writes DAVE EVANS. But, if anything, the whole situation has become even more ludicrous,

WE HOPED and prayed that the Carlos Tevez saga would finally blow itself out after West Ham agreed to pay Sheffield United �26million over five years as compensation, writes DAVE EVANS.

But, if anything, the whole situation has become even more ludicrous, with the news that former Blade Geoff Horsfield is looking into suing the Hammers over lost earnings.

A total of 18 Sheffield United players, past and present, are set to pursue a claim, yet Horsfield is surely the most ridiculous.

During that fateful 2006/07 season, Horsfield was indeed at Bramall Lane. However, he did not play a single game for the Blades that year, and indeed spent much of it on loan at Leeds United and Leicester City!

Horsfield, who two years later is plying his trade for mid-table League Two outfit Lincoln City, feels that he has a case.

"There are no personal grudges against West Ham from any of the Sheffield United players involved, myself included," said the 35-year-old journeyman striker.

"But the fact is we lost considerable sums of money as a result of being relegated to the Championship because our wages dropped as a consequence.

"It is nothing personal or about being bitter, but about justice."

In all, the United players are looking for around �3.5million in compensation for loss of earnings and bonuses through relegation, and they may well seek an arbitration panel to decide the issue.

Another man to jump on the bandwagon is former Fulham boss Lawrie Sanchez, who was sacked by the Cottagers back in December 2007.

"I'm going to look at my contract and see if it did injustice me in some way, shape or form," he said as Fulham lost one place to the Hammers.

"If everyone else is sticking their nose in the trough then perhaps I need to have a look at it.

"As manager of the team, I must have lost out financially in some way."

With Neil Warnock, Leeds United and the Fulham club itself all holding their hands out for compensation, it seems that the whole process will be with us for some considerable time yet.

West Ham meanwhile, insist that their payment to Sheffield United is a final settlement of the whole case, and one can only hope that common sense prevails and that is the case.

Some hope!