Former Sheffield United co-owner Kevin McCabe has been blocked from appealing the decision to grant sole control of the club to Prince Abdullah.

Last month the High Court ruled in favour of Prince Abdullah taking sole control after a lengthy trial.

The Sheffield Star says lawyers representing McCabe told Mr Justice Fancourt on Monday that they wanted to challenge his ruling in the Court of Appeal, but litigants must first get permission to mount an appeal and show that they have an arguable case.

Either the judge who made the decision, or a Court of Appeal judge, can give that permission – and Mr Justice Fancourt today refused, adding that he did not think McCabe's camp had a realistic prospect of overturning his ruling in the Court of Appeal.

Lawyers representing McCabe are now expected to make a second bid and ask a Court of Appeal judge to give them permission to mount an appeal.