Leeds United (AGAIN)

[DTES]

Going back to the basics now, would anyone like to spell out, in as many steps as they like, exactly why Ken Bates is so bad? I'm trying to discuss him with a Leeds fan at work here, but he won't have it way other than Ken Bates Is A Saviour, and that Leeds would be far far worse were he not involved.

Yes, I'm sure I'm missing something. Yes, this is a stupid question and I shouldn't have to ask, but I'm sure some of you will relish the chance to have a bloody good rant about him..

 

[jonny.rainbow]

He was the first chairman to introduce fences with barbed wire at the top at football grounds in this country.

Not the answer you were looking for I know, but worth mentioning.

 

[severnside gull]

has dealt fraudulently with players and supporters money by short-paying them while siphoning money through offshore companies he denies knowledge of but is clearly intimateely involved with- tried to fiddle the inland revenue - spoiled other "saviours" chances of investing by fiddling the sale of the club through witheld information. Is a liar with no respect for club, players, fans or the FL........

 

[coventrygull]

Didn't he save Chelsea

 

[hans kraay fan club]

No - he took them to the brink of bankruptcy, before Roman saved them.

 

[coventrygull]

No - he took them to the brink of bankruptcy, before Roman saved them.

But weren't Chelsea on the edge of Bankruptcy when he took them over

 

[Barrel of Fun]

But weren't Chelsea on the edge of Bankruptcy when he took them over

He bought them for £1, when they were in financial strife and on the verge of being relegated to the Third Division. I think he managed to get the freehold of Stamford Bridge back, but did push them deeper into debt (£80m ?) before selling for £17m...

He can probably be credited with saving Leeds United, although he took them extemely close to extinction. But then I think anyone could have saved them without such a dramatic series of twists and turns. However, I think Bates is the only person evil enough to screwed creditors, players and the fans to ensure survival and maximise his profit when he sells them on. He is a user.

 

[jonny.rainbow]

However, I think Bates is the only person evil enough to screwed creditors, players and the fans to ensure survival and maximise his profit when he sells them on.

Which is why the points deduction has to stand. He won't get much for them if they're perilously close to relegation come Easter.

 

[Easy 10]

He was the first chairman to introduce fences with barbed wire at the top at football grounds in this country.

Prior to Hillsborough, he was also strongly advocating bringing in electrfied fencing at football grounds.

He holds the common football fan in utter contempt, and views them as an inconvenience but a necessary evil, as long as they bring their wallets.

 

[supaseagull]

Didn't he save Chelsea

No that was Matthew Harding. Bates is and always will be a crook.

 

[Mr Blobby]

Going back to the basics now, would anyone like to spell out, in as many steps as they like, exactly why Ken Bates is so bad? I'm trying to discuss him with a Leeds fan at work here, but he won't have it way other than Ken Bates Is A Saviour, and that Leeds would be far far worse were he not involved.

Yes, I'm sure I'm missing something. Yes, this is a stupid question and I shouldn't have to ask, but I'm sure some of you will relish the chance to have a bloody good rant about him..

All the creditors that have been left with thousands of £'s being owed to them.

The fact that poor skint Leeds can afford to sign 4 new players (including Leon Constantine) whilst leaving the creditors from the old company with virtually nothing.

The fact that Ellend Road is regularly empty on match days because of the prices introduced by Bates.

The man is a

 

[severnside gull]

The fact that poor skint Leeds can afford to sign 4 new players (including Leon Constantine) whilst leaving the creditors from the old company with virtually nothing.

The man is a

Two key points - I especially agree with the second one

 

[DTES]

Oooh.. as an aside it appears that you can now rename your own threads. Marvellous.

 

[withdeanwombat]

All of the above,plus he's got a dodgy beard.

 

[beorhthelm]

its funny, on the surface he did indeed turn Chelsea around. you wont hear any Chelsea fans thanking him of rit though. In "saving" Leeds he has taken them to within a week of disappearing and effectivly stolen money from many small businesses in Leeds to do so. And they aren't clear yet, the HMRC is still out for thier money.

 

[trueblue]

Read Tom Bower's "Broken Dreams" about corruption in football and you'll find Mr Bates gets a bit of a hammering.

 

[Wardy]

And they aren't clear yet, the HMRC is still out for thier money.

And HMRC will not be fobbed off. They will get their money even if it means Leeds having to sell everything that they own.

 

[Storer68]

He was the first chairman to introduce fences with barbed wire at the top at football grounds in this country.

Not the answer you were looking for I know, but worth mentioning.

it was an electric fence actually. and it wasn't used.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

.

 

[bhaexpress]

But weren't Chelsea on the edge of Bankruptcy when he took them over

It was the late Mathew Harding's money that bailed out Chelsea, he didn't get along with Bates you may be surprised to hear.