Dallas Exec Ellis Short Assumes Largest Share Of Sunderland

American Becomes Largest Single Shareholder Of Sunderland

RELEGATION FIGHT: In Manchester, Andy Hunter reports as many as 12 players on English Football League Championship club Sheffield United's '06-07 team may sue EPL club West Ham United "for loss of earnings," claiming that then-West Ham F Carlos Tevez "should not have been allowed to play such an influential role in West Ham's escape from relegation" during that season. Sheffield was relegated from the EPL following the '06-07 season when it lost out to West Ham, and Sheffield's players "would have been entitled to a substantial bonus for keeping the club in the [EPL]." In addition, some of the players "suffered pay cuts between [30-50%] when they were relegated" (Manchester GUARDIAN, 9/26).

INJURY TIME: In London, Rob Stewart reported investment firm Seymour Pierce Chair Keith Harris, whose company was hired by Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley to help "find a purchaser to take the club off his hands," has "ordered that an inventory of [Newcastle's] assets should be painstakingly drawn up." As a result, the sale of the team could "turn out to be a protracted affair." Ashley bought Newcastle in '07 for US$247.7M, and spent US$202.7M "to cut their debts." Ashley earlier this month announced his intention to sell the club, and a group of Nigerian businessmen "are already in the running and interest from the [U.S.], Kuwait and the Far East is starting to solidify." Sources said that Ashley "does not expect the club to change hands before the end of next month at the earliest" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/25).

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