Sheffield United, who were demoted last season, have brought the case to the panel but were told on Tuesday they may have to wait until the end of the month for a decision.

The Blades - who have become embroiled in a separate transfer row of their own regarding striker Steve Kabba - claim West Ham should have been docked points over the Carlos Tevez affair.

West Ham, who until now have kept their counsel, want to stress to fans and players that there is no threat of relegation.

A statement released by the club said: "West Ham United are and remain a Barclays Premier League football club. There is no scope for this to be changed by the Premier League's arbitration panel and West Ham's status cannot be called into question in relation to next season.

"West Ham were not and are not a party to the arbitration and our standing as a Premier League club is not in doubt as a result of the panel's hearing.

"The club are well advanced in preparing for the new season and are taking further steps to strengthen the playing squad over the summer.

"We will not be deflected from our goal of achieving success in the Premiership next season."

The panel have to determine two matters: whether the decision by an independent disciplinary commission on April 27 to fine West Ham rather than dock points was so legally flawed that a fresh disciplinary commission needs to sit, and whether the Premier League acted unlawfully by not de-registering Tevez.

Even if a new commission is set up, and that appears increasingly unlikely, there is no way the full process could be completed before the start of next season.

The longer the saga continues, the more remote are Sheffield United's chances.

League insiders believe that if United's lawyers had been confident of success in a court battle they would have sought an injunction to prevent next season's fixture lists being issued last week.

Furthermore, the Premier League have confirmed they are investigating the transfer of Kabba from the Blades to Watford.

It has been claimed that Sheffield United insisted that Watford, who bought Kabba for £500,000 during the January transfer window, could not play the striker against them at Bramall Lane in April - a game that Watford lost.

Such clauses are not permitted in transfers between Premier League clubs and though a similar situation occurred with Everton keeper Tim Howard against his old club Manchester United, those clubs escaped disciplinary action as there was no formal agreement between them.

The row threatens to overshadow the Blades' fight to avoid relegation.

Sheffield United plc chairman Kevin McCabe wants a decision as soon as possible.

He emerged from the hearing to read a statement which said: "I'd like to thank the tribunal. It's been a very complicated case, and the panel are going away to review the evidence and submissions.

"We have been told to expect a decision by the end of the month, hopefully sooner."