Newcastle get £8m Keegan claim

Kevin Keegan's legal representatives are believed to have submitted papers to the three-man Premier League tribunal that will rule on Keegan's claim for constructive dismissal from Newcastle United in early September.

Keegan was eight months into a three-year contract with a salary estimated at £3m per annum and his claim against Newcastle is thought to be for a sum close to £8m.

The tribunal has appointed as yet unknown personnel and is expected to sit before Christmas or shortly into the new year. The tribunal has legal authority and, if it ruled in favour of Keegan, Newcastle would have to pay full or partial compensation.

This would be a distraction to the owner Mike Ashley as he tries to dispose of the club, though Ashley has the option of taking the compensation case all the way to the High Court should he not agree with the tribunal's findings.

Ashley put Newcastle up for sale on 14 September, 10 days after Keegan's departure from St James' Park was officially announced. Newcastle's opinion is that Keegan resigned from his post voluntarily and is not due any compensation.

Keegan's claim is that Newcastle's transfer policy as overseen by the head of recruitment, Dennis Wise, effectively undermined his authority at the club and his ability to do his job. It is understood Keegan is prepared to give evidence in court if necessary.

Before the tribunal's first sitting there is the possibility that Newcastle and Keegan will reach a private resolution. That has occurred in previous situations between clubs and former managers.

Patrice Evra will discover today the outcome of the Football Association's hearing into the so-called "Battle of Stamford Bridge", with the prospect of him facing either a hefty fine or ban if he is found guilty of improper conduct by the FA's commissioners.

The Frenchman was charged after his part in a 20-man mêleé involving United players and Chelsea groundstaff following the London club's 2-1 win in April and, though he denies a charge of improper conduct, his admission that he was provoked into responding presents a real prospect of punishment.

Whether that might be a fine or a ban is at the FA Commission's discretion. The same commission, which sat for the first day of the two-day hearing yesterday, will hear the cases against both Evra and Chelsea.

There was a happier day for Carlos Tevez yesterday, who learnt that he is likely to be awarded all four of the goals he had claimed during the 5-3 Carling Cup quarter-final win over Blackburn on Wednesday.

Neither United nor Rovers are likely to challenge the ruling by adjudicators that the South American almost certainly got the final touch to Aaron Mokoena's header, diverting it goalwards to put United in front and the dubious goals panel used in the Premier League has no jurisdiction over Carling Cup games. That left Tevez free to celebrate the first four-goal haul of his career.