Good Morning Everyone, Ken Bates has told the Oldham Chronicle that he attempted to sell Leeds United to Yorkshire based millionaire Paul Sykes. With all the ongoing wrangling off the field over the past few seasons, could it have been different with Sykes overseeing affairs? Bates explains in his interview that the businessman could not be convinced to get involved. He said: "In the old days, fans went to watch their team play. Now they go to watch them win. You used to be judged weekly, now it’s hourly. “Unfortunately social media gives anyone the Dutch courage to slag off people in a way they would never do face-to-face. It has lost Leeds three really good investors. I talked to Paul Sykes, who was a Leeds fan, and he told me he didn’t need the aggravation." Sykes has an estimated worth of £400 million, report The Guardian, with his recent £1.5 million donation to UKIP well documented. He previously donated £1.5 million to St James Hospital in Leeds, reported the BBC, after being treated there for cancer. As one of Britain's wealthiest individuals, he would not have lacked the funds to rejuvenate the club on and off the field. Casper Sloth (groin) and Liam Cooper (hip) should be fit for the Forest game on Saturday whereas Byram is touch n go whether he'll recover from his foot injury in Byram (foot) and Austin (thigh) are being assessed. Ross Killock has come back to Leeds from his youth loan at Halifax. Wasn't getting a game at Halifax. "He's better than that," Redfearn said
Morning Elland and all. So basically it's all glorys fault we lost three investors with his constant attacks. Knew it'd come home to bite us
Morning all, if an investor is truly scared away by social media and not big enough to ignore it or even not use it in the first place then they are not strong enough in character to run a football club. What would they do if things were not going right in a ground with 30k disgruntled fans screaming and chanting for their departure. I think Leeds fans have been pretty forgiving so far with Cellino.
Morning all Agree with the above, Bates stirring **** again as nobody listens to him anymore and its slowly killing him. And I also agree if you havent got the minerals to be slagged off on social media sites then running a football club, or being in any sort of limelight thats going to divide opinions isnt worth it. Sit back and enjoy your millions
Morning ristac, Cellino has surely done more then GFH and Bates put together as far as funds are concrned?
Done more than them yes, I don't disagree with that but was that hard?? You couldn't have done worse could you?? Cellino hasn't my backing, false promises in buying the ground back, poor quality coaches being appointed, questionable loan signings, selling Ross and doing what with the money, off field distractions with his flirting with the law, telling us he has secured £20m to invest after a meeting with GFH (where is it?), the list could go on but I have expressed my feelings towards him many times before... Strange as well how our fortunes have changed since he has been kept away from the club
He didn't sell Ross. He wasn't Cellino's to sell. The football club sold him and the football club received the money
Afternoon gombawn, you alright pal? But who's pulling the strings? Do you think GFH got the proceeds from Ross's sale?
Afternoon Elland. Sorry previous post was brief, busy with cheltenham...will post more in depth reply later. Of course Cellino is pulling the strings but the cash goes to the club, and the only way Cellino gets it is through dividends or fancy bates style accounting tricks (management/consultancy charges!!) Same with GFH. They get 25% of profits and dividends
Cellino said he had enough cash to buy the club and he was going to in week one. This was changed to beginning of November Cellino said he would sell Ross and use the cash to purchase back Elland Road Cellino said he had secured a £20m investment by negotiating a new deal with GFH You prove the point I am trying to make, I believe fans have been pretty forgiving, would you or anyone else have been so forgiving if this was Bates or GFH?
