IT says much about the present state of the not so beautiful game that Sheffield United's biggest battles of the past 12 months have been largely played out in the courtroom rather than on the pitch.
But, as the Bramall Lane club's legal war with West Ham following the Carlos Tevez Affair prepares to reach endgame, there are signs that football could be spared the embarrassment of seeing its dirty linen washed in public again.
The FA tribunal charged with considering the substance of United claim for compensation following their relegation from the Premiership a year ago will deliver its verdict before the start of the 2008/09 campaign.
However, sources have suggested that the Londoners -found guilty of breaching regulations governing the ownership of players when they signed Tevez and Javier Mascherano - and United could strike a private agreement before the delegation from Soho Square arrives at its judgement.
United believe West Ham should have been docked points for "acting improperly and withholding vital documentation over the duo's ownership" – and support for that stance from other clubs appears steadfast.
Wigan Athletic and Fulham were vociferous in their condemnation of West Ham during the immediate aftermath while Middlesbrough, who were relegated after failing to fulfil a fixture in 1996, have previously offered United moral support.
Both sides in the row have submitted their evidence and, The Star understands, are now reviewing each other's arguments.
United, who initially pressed for Premiership reinstatement, could seek up to £30m worth of compensation.
In their case, the Blades are believed to have written an assessment of how individual players can swing the outcome of matches.
Tevez's goal during West Ham's visit to Old Trafford on the final day
of the season, combined with United's defeat by Wigan Athletic, helped condemn the South Yorkshire outfit to relegation at an estimated cost of around £38m.
West Ham's situation has been complicated further by Kia Joorabchian's decision to pursue them for £7m through the courts.
It was the Anglo-Iranian businessman's relationship with Tevez via his firm MSI which landed West Ham in hot water but Joorabchian claims he is still due the sum in unpaid fees.
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