'Morons' hit back
Leeds United Supporters' Trust has described as 'unacceptable' comments by club chairman Ken Bates describing a section of the club's supporters as 'morons' in his programme notes after they had called for more investment in the playing budget.
Meanwhile, questions about the club's ownership structure remain unanswered. It was only the result of parliamentary pressure that it was learnt that Bates had taken a 70 per cent controlling interest in Leeds in May from a group of offshore trusts that had run the club since 2007. He continues to claim that he did not know the people behind these trusts despite being chairman during that period.
Bates originally bought Leeds in 2005 before Forward Sports Fund - made up of three offshore trusts - took the club out of administration in 2007 and appointed Bates chairman. Bates says the matter is closed since purchasing FSF via his own offshore company Outro Ltd. for an undisclosed sum. He also argues fans would not care if a Saddam Hussein-type figure owned the club as long as the team was winning.
Conservative MP Damian Collins argues that it is wrong to say that fans don't care who owns a club because it is the fans who are let down along with local businesses and the community if a club goes into administration. If the identity of a club owner is unknown one does not know if they are involved in another club and a fit and proper person test cannot be applied.
Bates has made it clear that he is not going anywhere soon and the Monte Carlo-based tax exile is probably not too bothered by the protests in Leeds.
BATES OUT !
Bates has a proven track record of lying in court ( oh, sorry he afterwards said it was a mistake ), and frequently made statements to deny all knowledge of the clubs owners , ( his supposed "employers" ). However, when the heat was recently turned up to disclose the clubs ownership, he suddenly stated he had purchased 72% of the club from these "unknown persons". How easy to find they must have been when needed, and how charitable to sell the 72% to Bates, without seeking out any other potential buyers (strangely, with many similarities to the way Bates bought Leeds from "unknown persons" in the "Administration" process ). In addition to the "club ownership" issues, these same questions remain over the actual "ownwership" of the Elland Road stadium, and "Thorpe Arch" training faciilities. These are again hidden behind a cloak of disguise in "offshore companies", .... so the battle for transparency clearly prevails.
Many of his other dealings appear "shady" at best. Leeds supporters, deserve clarification on the many suspect and unanswered questions that affect the way the world views Leeds United, and the supporters
we need the facts to make personal choices about spending their hard earned cash
through the turnstiles at a club which seems to be driven by "owner" profit, deceit, and lack of investment.
Unless the supporters, public, Leeds local authority, potential investors, etc, can regain confidence in the way the club is run, there can be no long term planning to make Leeds United once again respected in the football world.