The Blades are seeking compensation from West Ham United for illegally fielding the Argentinian forward during what turned out to be an ill-fated season in the Premier League for the South Yorkshire club.

Tevez was instrumental in keeping West Ham in the Premier League at the expense of United, prompting the club into a legal fight against the London club for breaching transfer regulations.

Some sources have predicted a huge £30m-£50m cash windfall for the Blades should the hearing find in their favour and, while McCabe refused to discuss numbers, he is confident the saga is drawing to an end.

Having already failed in a bid to the Premier League last summer to have the Hammers relegated in their place, United pursued compensation for what they deemed to be their own unfair demotion from the top flight.

"The formal arbitration hearing concluded last month," said McCabe, who for the past 15 months has been the driving force behind the quest for justice.

"Both parties have until July 24 to make any further written submissions and then there's four extra days for oral submissions.

"By the end of the month, all proceedings will be concluded and by September we'll know the outcome. It's regrettable that it's not reinstatement, but it will hopefully be financial compensation."

That windfall could come too late for manager Kevin Blackwell, who will see the transfer window slam shut on August 31, denying him the benefits of what could potentially be the largest transfer kitty in the Championship.

Blackwell has already signed Greg Halford and Sun Jihai, with McCabe hinting "there will be one or two others", and is locked in a battle to sign Wigan winger David Cotterill.

"Anyone in or out is a decision that purely rests with Kevin Blackwell, with the simple logic being that whoever he brings in will improve the squad," added McCabe.

McCabe himself has been active in the market, recently purchasing shares to take his family's holding in Sheffield United to over 75 per cent.

"I bought shares from some of the other directors," McCabe explained.

"It was an opportunity and we'll probably now de-certify United from the stock exchange.

"It's not really a big issue. It just seemed a logical step."

Despite his family's massive share in the club – with sons Scott and Simon on the board and charged with furthering the club's international interests – McCabe added he would still welcome fresh investment in the Blades.

In recent months he has hinted that he would step down, particularly at the conclusion of the Tevez affair, but with so much now invested in the club, he only plans to pass it on at the right time.

"It is still the aim to bring in new investment for the best interests of Sheffield United," he said.

"But the country is in recession and times are tough, which doesn't make it easy to find investment.

"We would be wasting time if we were actively seeking investment.

"But if people or courters came to us at the right price we would be willing to listen."

The club's international expansion knows no bounds with Scott McCabe heading to Australia next week to continue cultivating links with Central Coast Mariners, while brother Simon jets off to Brazil to work with Sao Paulo.

The most productive of those links, in terms of on-field progression, has been Chengdu Blades with a small number of Chinese players being integrated into the squad.

McCabe added that there could soon be players filtering through from Brazil and admitted his excitement at the Ferencvaros link.

He said: "We only took on the Ferencvaros responsibility recently, but there's a belief that we can westernise the club, and hopefully bring some players through from Hungary and eastern Europe."

But on the subject of whether the broadening of United's horizons in foreign markets had reaped financial reward, McCabe could only say: "Sort of.

"We're working towards Chengdu and Ferencvaros becoming self-sufficient, but as a copycat of the Sheffield United model.

"Chengdu are moving to a new stadium in 2009 and Ferencvaros are also hoping to move to a new home."