West Ham United will resist any attempts by Sheffield United players or Neil Warnock, the Yorkshire club’s former manager, to seek compensation for their relegation from the Premier League in 2007.

West Ham stayed up that year thanks largely to the contribution of Carlos Tevez, the Argentina forward, who was playing despite a breach of rules on third-party ownership. The London club were fined by the Premier League, but had no points deducted and therefore retained their place in the top flight at Sheffield United’s expense.

On Monday West Ham agreed to pay Sheffield United compensation of £15 million, and yesterday Neil Warnock, who was Sheffield United manager at the time of their relegation, claimed that he could also take legal action. “I am very bitter … because it was my dream job,” Warnock said. “I wanted to get this out of the way first and then I would look at it. I will be taking legal advice myself.”

Around 20 members of the relegated Sheffield United squad have also threatened legal action, but West Ham yesterday made it plain that they will fight any such move – if it ever materialises – in order to prevent ‘legal anarchy’.

“Despite the extensive media coverage, West Ham United have received no formal legal claims from Sheffield United players or their previous manager relating to the so-called Tevez affair,” a statement on the West Ham official website read.

“The club have settled the matter of compensation, as ruled upon by Lord Griffiths, with Sheffield United and can see no basis for claims being brought outside of the arbitration process, established by the Football Association, which has now been brought to a close.

“However, it is now becoming clear that the ruling by Lord Griffiths has encouraged a potentially endless legal chain of claims and counter claims, which can only be damaging to English football.

“As a club we will strongly resist any attempts to prolong this matter through the courts both to protect our interests and those of the wider game. There is a lot more at stake than the finances of West Ham United and we will do all we can to stop this matter ending in a form of legal anarchy.”