The independent arbitration panel have delivered the hammer blow that has sealed the Blades participation in the Coca-Cola Championship next season.

Sheffield United appealed following the meagre £5.5 million fine West Ham received following a breach of Premier League rules regarding the ownership of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. However the independent arbitration panel upheld the decision made by the Premier League indicating that the original decision was neither ‘irrational or perverse’.

The Blades will consider their next steps, which could involve further appeals or law suits after their legal team digest the decision of the arbitration panel. It seems certain that Sheffield United will be playing for a place in the Premier League rather than playing in the Premier League, they may eventually receive some kind of compensation.