By Jon Colman

Last updated at 10:21, Saturday, 04 July 2009

Carlisle United’s battle for compensation over Danny Graham will be settled by a Football League tribunal after Watford offered a paltry £25,000 for the striker.

Danny Graham

Graham signed for the Hornets earlier this week after his contract at Brunton Park ran out.

The Championship club must pay a fee for the frontman as Graham is still under 24 – but the sum they offered yesterday is a TENTH of the £250,000 Carlisle turned down for the ex-Middlesbrough man in January.

It means a league panel will determine the fee United will receive.

Blues chief executive David Allen said: “Watford have made an offer of £25,000, which has been declined.

“The matter will now be put in the hands of the Football League.”

Carlisle expect the fact they rejected £250,000 from Huddersfield for Graham in January to be taken into account by the tribunal panel, which is likely to sit in the next few weeks.

Details of Watford’s offer came on the day United boss Greg Abbott suffered another striker blow with Colchester’s Scott Vernon rejecting the chance to join the Cumbrians.

The Us’ frontman pulled out of a part-exchange deal which would have seen Ben Williams move to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, with Carlisle also receiving a nominal fee.

Vernon’s snub has not necessarily scuppered Williams’ move, however, as the Carlisle ‘keeper could still join Paul Lambert’s side if the clubs can agree a straight fee. No reasons have been given for 25-year-old Vernon’s decision, but it comes as a shock to the Cumbrians who believed the ex-Oldham and Blackpool player was on the brink of signing.

Allen added: “If a deal can be done, then Ben can still go to Colchester even through the Scott Vernon part of the deal has fallen through.”

Manager Abbott will now resume his search for a striker to replace Graham, while the United boss is closing in on a goalkeeping target to offset Williams’ likely departure.

First published at 09:04, Saturday, 04 July 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk