Manchester City's appeal against the compensation award to former boss Joe Royle has gone into extra-time. Judges at the Appeal Court have reserved their judgement until a later date.

Royle was awarded £422,819 plus £65,000 costs by Judge Michael Kershaw at the High Court in Liverpool last July.

The Town manager claimed that his golden handshake from City in May 2001 should have been at an agreed Premiership level of £750,000 rather than the lower Division One sum he was actually paid.

Lawyers representing Royle argued that City were still effectively a Premiership club until their Premier League share was returned at an AGM in the following June.

City's legal people contended that a club is relegated when it is mathematically impossible for them to escape the drop.

In court today no verdict was reached by the three judges, Lord Justice Sedley, Lady Justice Smith and Lord Justice Gage. Justice Sedley conceded: "We should be able to declare a draw."

The verdict is expected to be delivered in the next few weeks.

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