Chelsea strike deal with Leeds over youth team players

LONDON, Oct 29 (Reuters) Chelsea have struck a deal with Leeds United over an alleged approach to three of the Yorkshire club's youth players in breach of Premier League and FA Rules, a joint statement from the governing bodies said.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates, who sold Chelsea to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003, reported yesterday that his former club to the FA on August 2 over approaches to Tom Taiwo and Michael Wood and when attempting to sign Daniel Rose.

Taiwo and Woods later moved to Premier League champions Chelsea while Rose opted to stay at second division Leeds.

Bates had said at the time: ''We have considerable and great weight of evidence to demonstrate quite clearly .... that Chelsea behaved consistently aggressively in stealing these two players from Leeds United.

The Premier League and FA had agreed to conduct a joint inquiry into the ''alleged conduct of Chelsea FC in relation to three Leeds United academy players last season''.

However, the joint Premier League/FA statement published by the clubs on their official Web sites on Saturday said Leeds had now withdrawn their complaint.

CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT The Premier League was advised by both clubs that any claims and litigation arising out of the allegations had been settled.

''This resolution is subject to a confidentiality agreement and there will be no further statements,'' said the statement.

British media estimated the settlement at seven figures with the Daily Mail reporting Chelsea had agreed to pay Leeds five million pounds (.52 million) in compensation.

The joint statement said Chelsea had also agreed to conduct an internal review of policies and procedures regarding the recruitment of players; take steps to rectify any shortcomings; take appropriate action in relation to club personnel, including Premier League approved training, and develop a code of conduct.

The statement added that ''the Premier League and Football Association accordingly consider the matter closed''.

In June last year Chelsea were fined 300,000 pounds and handed a suspended three-point deduction by the Premier League following an investigation into claims they had 'tapped up' Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.

Cole and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho were fined 75,000 pounds each for their part in the affair.

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