Tykes hit back at Iron

Last updated : 29 June 2005 By Chris Mumby

Kell

Kell, along with striker Paul Hayes, has since joined the Tykes - despite the midfielder breaking his leg at the end of last season, and United have asked the Football League to investigate the background of the transfers.

Under Football League rules, a player approaching the end of a contract is only allowed to talk to a prospective new employer after the third Saturday in May, after he has turned down the offer of a new deal.

It is understood Kell never turned down a new deal until the day before he left.

Any infringement of this can, under regulation 66.4 of the Football League rules, lead to a "fine, suspension, or otherwise as the Board may think fit in the circumstances."

But Barnsley supremo Shepherd has denied any wrongdoing.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "We have done nothing wrong and will be replying to the Football League in due course.

"We had been asked if we were interested in signing the player when his contract expired and we had said yes.

"We maintained that position after the player [Kell] had broken his leg.

"If anything, we may be guilty of using poor English at the press conference.

"We should have made it clear that, on April 29, we had merely confirmed our interest to sign Richard Kell.

"I did not meet with the player until late May - before then I would probably not have recognised him if we had bumped into each other in the street."

Barnsley have offered no more than £75,000 for Paul Hayes as part of the compensatory package required due to the player's age.

United feel the striker is worth more and this will now go to a Football League tribunal.

All this adds further spice to the Iron's game with the Tykes at Glanford Park on August 9.