By Hugh Southon
West Ham United this morning ( Fri) will send their own representative to a three man FA-instigated panel as the Andy Carroll saga rumbles on.
The game’s ruling body staged a climb-down last night when allowing a new hearing to see if there had been any irregularities in the original appeal into the striker’s red card proceedings as the Londoners insist.
The three man panel is expected to include the Hammers legal expert Lord Pannick QC, a member from the FA and an entirely neutral individual.
The 11 am hearing is solely to decide if there were any irregularities involved and if that turns out to be the case, ClaretandHugh has learned a new appeal will be held this afternoon.
The threat of legal action from West Ham is based on the FA not allowing any further arbitration but should they concede that is now required, no High Court acion will take place.
That would be because the club had entered into conciliation talks and would see any court action thrown out by the courts as a result.
A source close to the proceedings told us exclusively: “The FA is clearly attempting to cover all its bases as were the Hammers to go to court then it would allow any other club to do the same and that could change the face of the game forever.
“The FA are desperate to get this cleared up before tomorrow as were they not to it could mean West Ham’s game against Aston Villa would have to be postponed.
“As things stand, he is banned for three games but were there to be no conclusive outcome it presents the ruling body with an enormous headache for the weekend game.”