It's interesting that you say that the club isn't as financially sound as they'd like us to think, because there was recently an article on a newspaper website, I'll find the link in a few seconds, where a financial expert said that Bates was running the club, business wise, like any other business should be and that it's how other football clubs should be run. Obviously that's on the financial side and not generally, as if every club was run generally the same we'd be a very unhappy footballing country. I can't find the full article, but the YEP include a short quote from it. "Football finance expert Rob Wilson, a lecturer with Sheffield Hallam University, told the YEP: âTheyâre very positive results. They shows that Leeds have been getting their business model right.â "
LUSS On the face of it we show we are not millions in debt, but we have a dwindling customer base, which tells a different tale. We leak cash into offshore accounts and show we cannot compete on the pitch because of the way the club's being run. Some will say bates is our saviour, many, many more will think Bates looks after bates and sod the rest. By redeveloping the east stand and selling future season ticket sales, it shows bates isn't bothered about promotion. Last season after being in the top 6 all season, all we needed to do was spend on a couple of quality players, which should have guaranteed promotion. Promotion means multi millions, so wouldn't have needed to bother borrowing to fund his white elephant. We all know what happened, and then he went about selling players and not replacing them, giving us a worse team than last season. We are at present mid-table quality at best, so have gone backwards. Not good business as has been proved with the amount of fans unrest, protests, marches etc. We've wasted another year and its been dire at best. The best thing Bates has done (And only under duress) was bring in Warnock, but too late to save the season as the window was closed. This season we should have been minted and in the prem, but because we didn't invest, we're in the mire. The east stand will never be filled whilst we're in this league, and fans will show their unrest and vote with their feet, so gates are down. Bad business and if Warnock isn't given backing then I fear for the future because its all downhill and back into L1. Bad business.
Thanks Gary interesting stuff Elland road is not the same and will never be while Bates is in charge! Have the trust ever thought about creating another club? FC United of Leeds, id pay the £612 quid a year to go watch them but will not put it into Leeds United next season, Had my season ticket over 15 years!
So who says he is an expert? If he is such an expert on business, why is he a teacher? I found his comments to be asinine and naive.
Hi Gary, Can you share with us the actual numbers? How many members are season ticket holders that you know of and how many have not renewed for next year? Keep up the great work!
My biggest concern is what hidden debts & liability is the club been left with. Ken Bates is a very old man who will not be here for long, what worries my is that he is deferring tax returns, whilst committing us to long term contracts with unknown investors. Surely we should be engaging with the HMRC to ensure we are paying the correct tax on time... PS. Have we checked the Elland Road ownership recently with the Land Registry?
not something weve thought about mate, i couldnt give up on LUFC though so i guess i am in for the long haul, i susupect you are too
Rob Wilson is indeed a renowned academic expert in footbal finance and speaks highly of the model post 2011, i have exchanged emails with Rob who is re-evaluating his stance based on the latest information, i will let him go public with his understandings before i say more but lets just say the model doesnt look anything like as prudent as it did previously.
we had close to 900 replys for that specific question mate from season ticket holders who are members of the trust.
land registry shows the current owners to be Teak Commercial, a company registered offshore surprise surprise!
I can't understand how he could have come to his conclusions if he is such a "renowned academic expert". I am no "xprt" nor do I have a financial bent, but even I could see through this stuff very quickly. He clearly did not take the wider issues into account. Maybe that is why he is "academic". I have zero confidence in his "expertness" on this subject
