Blues didn't 'nick' Leeds youngster.

Byline: DAVE PRENTICE

EVERTON chief executive Robert Elstone insisted yesterday that Everton had "played by the rules" in their capture of promising Leeds youngster Luke Garbutt, after Elland Road chairman Ken Bates accused the Blues of "nicking" the youngster.

Everton will attend a tribunal today to set the compensation figure they must pay Leeds for the young England starlet.

And it is no coincidence that Leeds' 77-year-old chairman chose the eve of the hearing to launch a withering attack.

"On Monday we have a tribunal for Garbutt, who Everton nicked from us," said Bates.

"We are dissatisfied. We're chasing the matter with the Football League and the Premier League and we're seeking substantial compensation.

"The days of nicking Leeds players and paying peanuts are over. We are determined to be adequately compensated for the work we are doing in our academy.

"I hope the ruling that has been handed down from Fifa on Chelsea will set the scene. It certainly sends a message to the Football League Continued on Page 34

From Back Page compensation tribunal about compensation.

"I'm not just talking about Leeds. Lots of smaller clubs than us have been stripped of their best kids and they should be adequately compensated."

Blues chief executive Elstone, however, was adamant they had not acted improperly in their pursuit of the young defender.

"We are very comfortable that we have played by the rules," he declared "and we are very comfortable that the club elected to go to a tribunal to establish a fair value.

"They are the two salient points for me. We absolutely played by the rules. There is a right way to do business and that's the way we do our business, while the tribunal is there to establish a fair value for the player."

Bates, however, is unrepentant. He believes Chelsea have finally got their comeuppance - and is demanding that English football chiefs now take a leaf out of Fifa's book by punishing Manchester City and Everton .

Last month, Leeds lost promising teenagers George Swann and Louis Hutton to City, while England under-17 captain Garbutt left for Goodison Park.

Bates said: "Big clubs who strip other clubs' youth policy should face stiff penalties.

"How can Manchester City pay pounds 24m for Joleon Lescott and take two of our 14-year-olds - and only offer us pounds 70,000? They've spent pounds 200m on new players and that's all they are offering."

Garbutt, 16, starred for the England U-17s at the European Championships earlier this year, scoring their only goal of the finals.

From Back Page compensation tribunal [...]

Bates fumes as Blues 'nick' Luke

CAPTION(S):

Everton CEO Robert Elstone Leeds chairman Ken Bates