Wrong. Bates has said over 200 people have approached him regarding investment or buy-outs. Wondering why they've not gone ahead with it? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...s-of-Australian-takeover-at-Leeds-United.html Because he needlessly slags off anyone who comes near 'his' club. The second bit is down to Bates for certain, but I've obviously dismissed the point about investment and potential. No sane man would deal with Bates, and those that attempt to are shot down. Elland Road doesn't need tearing down. "So what?" So it makes ****loads of money when it's full. So it creates a great atmosphere unlike new-build stadiums. So it's special and has history. If an investor can't see those things, I don't want them in English football, frankly, never mind near my beloved club. And what an odd statement that an investor would prefer a 'modern stadium' like the Stadium of Light to an old-fashioned one like the Sports Direct Arena, to compare two similarly-sized and nearby venues. Bullshit.
You are falling into the same trap as the Notts Florest lot with the 'History' bit. It can give you a good foundation for moving forward or weigh you down. I've been to Elland Rd a few times and in truth it's looking a bit tired now. I admit that the atmosphere was great but that's probably because I was in the Leicester end.
I'd rather tired and filled with history and atmosphere than a sterile, silent, anonymous flat-pack like yours.
Ignore the history bit if you want then, the other points still stand. It's still a great place to watch football when there's a sellout crowd, and has great capacity to be expanded or redeveloped if a prospective buyer thinks it needs a change. The atmosphere's still better than most home sections around the country, but has suffered due to Bates' policies of over-the-top stewarding and pricing which drives passionate fans away and dilutes the amount of singers in our Kop end. But it still has a great noise for the big games and could be a lot more consistent with sane stewardship from a new owner. The overarching point is that if I were a wealthy man looking to buy a football club, all biases aside, Leeds United would be very near the top of my list.
That's why your not a business man! Leeds don't own there ground, apart from the players don't have assets and have to service a large debt. There only plus side are the fans, but your average gate has fallen to an average 25,000? Bates does not want to throw his own money in and therefore will use money from players sold to re invest on cheaper players. Short term not good for your ambitions, long term your still around and can build on the potential to sell to an investor.
Leeds and Leicester have almost identical average league attendances this season - around 23.5 K The similarity ends there, thank goodness.
I have to go with the Leeds fans on this. I think Leeds would be a fantastic opportunity for anyone looking to invest. If Bates is really blocking this from happening, then they need to protest even harder than they are doing to get the c*** out.
I agree 100% and that would be how it would work in an ideal world, it might even resurrect our failing national side but that's another debate, but until we get the FA and the Premier League singing from the same hymn sheet then that will always be very difficult to achieve. This eutopian footballing world you describe makes complete sense to me and you but when the likes of Sky and The Premier League are making so much money from it then it's going to be very hard to get it back to the situation in which you describe. Sad but it is the way football is going...
