Coventry City are locked in a battle with non league Doncaster Rovers over the transfer of 17 year old Robert Betts, grandson of the soccer legend Maurice Setters.

Coventry signed Betts twelve months ago and he played for the Premiership club in last season’s FA Youth Cup Final.

Doncaster put a price tag on his head which Coventry refused to pay and the matter went to a tribunal under the auspices of the Football League Advisory Committee.

The tribunal ordered Coventry to pay £45,000 to Doncaster Rovers for the youngster, but the Premiership club has appealed to the Football Association.

A Coventry spokesman said:

"We say that FLAC was not the proper authority to deal with the tribunal.

"Doncaster Rovers were not a Football League team when we signed Robert and so it is not right their tribunal should decide the issue. We have informed Doncaster and the Premiership of our thoughts on the matter."

Betts, a defender, is the grandson of Maurice Setters the former Manchester United, Coventry City and England centre-half.

Setters became manager of Doncaster Rovers when his playing career ended and then became Jack Charlton’s assistant when they took the job of running the Republic of Ireland national team.

Coventry City meanwhile have again been linked with Glasgow Rangers centreback Colin Hendry.

Reports north of the border say City, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United are chasing the international centreback who is unsettled at Glasgow Rangers.

Coventry’s manager Gordon Strachan watched Hendry play for Scotland against Bosnia earlier this week.