Chelsea caught again

News: Chelsea will be hit with a demand for more than £10 million in compensation or a Premier League investigation following their latest attempt to secure the services of another Premiership club's staff member, writes Matt Scott and Jon Brodkin.

Tottenham are also exploring the possibility of civil action following Chelsea's approach for the sporting director Frank Arnesen, one that was conducted in a manner Spurs perceive to have transgressed the Premier League's rules. That law forbids approaches for members of other clubs' staff without the permission of their employers.

Tottenham consider Chelsea to have been caught red-handed once more, and pointedly at a time when they had been given a total of £500,000 in fines and a suspended three-point penalty for tapping up Arsenal's Ashley Cole.

Tottenham contend that Chelsea's letter requesting permission to speak to Arnesen on May 21th constituted an illegal approach because the sporting director received a copy of that document. Chelsea deny this interpretation of events.

Spurs believe that, since they were not given the opportunity to decline Chelsea's request before Arnesen was made aware of the interest, they would be within their rights to report the Stamford Bridge club to the Premier League.

Holding Arnesen to the remaining 24 months of his reported £1.2 million-a-year contract has privately been discounted and Spurs are now resigned to losing their man.

Meanwhile, a lobby of Premiership chairmen is set to call on the Premier League to establish a department aimed at policing Chelsea.

Arsenal's vice-chairman David Dein and Levy are ready to join forces in seeking a change in Premier League rules over perceived infractions.

Under the current system, clubs may only be charged for violations of Premier League rules if another club has put forward an official complaint about their conduct.

However, there is a groundswell of opinion that considers there should be greater protection for clubs, with Bolton's chairman Phil Gartside, a Premier League representative on the English FA's main board, making comments that were sympathetic to Arsenal and Tottenham's plight.

* Guardian Service

Cole comes clean

Ashley Cole spoke up for the first time yesterday regarding his future at Arsenal following the Premier League's inquisition into his meeting with Chelsea and, though Arsenal chairman David Dein sought to reiterate his desire for the left back to remain at Highbury, Cole's intentions seem clear.

"I think this is a broken bridge that might be impossible to mend," the full back told the News of the World. "I blame David Dein for trying to force me out of the club I love.

"I feel betrayed confused and badly let down. It's hard to forgive. The Arsenal board and Dein in particular have hung me out to dry."

Cole also indicated that relations with his manager Arsene Wenger had broken down.

New hands for United

Fulham have agreed to sell their goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar to Manchester United for £1.5 million.

The 34-year-old Holland international is expected to sign a two-year deal at Old Trafford when he returns from his country's World Cup qualifier against Finland later this week.

Fulham have already found a replacement for Van der Sar having signed a pre-contract agreement with the Czech Jaroslav Drobny who will arrive from the Greek side Panionios.

Liverpool interest Raul

Spanish striker Raul has intimated he may be ready to leave Real Madrid and Liverpool is thought to be his likeliest destination.

Raul's place in the Real team has come under threat from former Liverpool striker Michael Owen.

The 27-year-old has called on the Bernabeu club to tell him if he still has a future there. "After 11 years here I want what is best for the club," Raul said. "If at some time I have to sacrifice myself in order for the team to progress then I will do."

Keegan paves the way

For the second game in succession, Waterford United suffered a 3-0 defeat at the RSC. Longford unhinged the United defence on 32 minutes when Paul Keegan planted a shot into the net from a difficult angle. The visitors went further ahead on 63 minutes when John Martin lobbed the ball into the net from 35 metres out. The third goal arrived on 79 minutes when Andy Myler directed the ball in from 15 metres.

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden, Browne, Frost, Mulcahy, Breen, Purcell, Sullivan, Crowley, Doyle (Yelverton, 59 mins), Bruton, Waters (Andrews, 79 mins).

LONGFORD TOWN: O'Brien, Murphy, Prunty, Martin, Dillon, Paisley (Cronin, 73 mins), Kirby, O'Connor, Keegan, Myler (Murphy, 87 minutes), Barrett (Baker, 10 minutes).

Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).

In brief . . .

Lyon's Michael Essien is ready to dismiss interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid and sign for Chelsea . . . Tottenham missed out on a place in next season's Uefa Cup following the Fair Play draw yesterday . . . Argentina's plans of booking an early place at next year's World Cup were upset as they lost 2-0 away to Ecuador . . . David Weir (35) will sign a new one-year deal with Everton . . . Manchester City have agreed a new year-long loan deal for the Atletico Madrid's Kiki Musampa.