United wait on Tevez clearance

Manchester United will be hope to receive Premier League clearance for Carlos Tevez's signing on Wednesday so the Argentina striker is available for the start of the season.

The Premier League only began looking at the paperwork surrounding the signing on Tuesday because they had to wait until Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian had paid West Ham the £2million settlement agreed last week.

That money arrived in West Ham's bank account on Tuesday and, with Tevez formally released from his contract and his registration made available, United were able to put forward their proposed two-year loan deal for the Argentina striker to the Premier League.

Given that Tevez's fellow Argentina international Javier Mascherano was given the go-ahead for a similar signing for Liverpool last season, there should be time for United to receive clearance before they kick off the new season against Reading at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has insisted he never contemplated resigning over the criticism of his handling of the Tevez affair.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has called for both Scudamore and league chairman Sir Dave Richards to both quit but he is adamant the board just followed the rule book.

West Ham were fined £5.5million by an independent commission for contravening rules on third-party agreements when they signed Tevez and Mascherano, and the league have come in for criticism for allowing the striker to play a crucial role in the last three matches of the season.

Asked if he had considered his position, Scudamore told BBC Radio Five Live: "I don't think so. All the board have done since last August is look at our rule book and apply the rule book.

"The independent commission made various decisions about West Ham's conduct and we have then gone on making decisions based on our rules.

"They may not have been popular decisions but that goes with the territory."