This is a collection of postings from the original loveleedshatebates site that was mothballed after the -15 point penalty… reading them shows how very little has changed in the last three years…

The original why:

The document below appeared on the original Love Leeds Hate Bates site in advance of our first home game of 2007-08, we keep it as a reminder of how all this came about.

The euphoria of that opening day win at Tranmere will live long in our memories but alas will never wipe away the stress and loathing from this summer, a summer where our own Chairman threaten to liquidate the club, a summer where the last vestige of our pride was squeezed through a mangle day after day after day, a summer where we were lied to (and are still being lied to).

Love Leeds Hate Bates supports the team, supports the players and coaching staff, that’s why our actions on Saturday are timed for before kick-off. There are hundreds of reasons, articulated by the fans during pre-season, discussed in the pubs around Leeds (and in the Wirral last Saturday) and by us all when we meet. Below is a taster of why Love Leeds Hate Bates is showing Bates the red card.

1 Because it was Bates who put us into a collapse into insolvency and administration in the first place, with debts of £35.5m, given that Ken Bates, and his solicitor and fellow Leeds United director Mark Taylor, had said during 2006-07 that the club would be in a dramatically better financial position once the season was over and the contracts of high-earning players would come to an end.

2 Because it was Bates who borrowed money off three offshore companies, Astor Investment Holdings (registered in the British Virgin Islands), Krato Trust (Nevis Island, the West Indies), and the owner of the club, Forward Sports Fund (the Cayman Islands), and god knows how did the club spend that money.

3 Because it was Bates who connived with KPMG to sell Leeds United immediately back to the new company, which is also owned by the Forward Sports Fund and chaired by Bates, for 1p in the pound, when normally the administrators of other clubs have spent months running clubs and publicly seeking the best possible deal for creditors.

4 Because it was Bates who hides the owners or beneficiaries of the Forward Sports Fund, Astor Investment Holdings and Krato Trust, companies who have chosen to register their companies in offshore tax havens where they are not legally required to declare their identity.

5 Because its Bates who provided the Football League with its “precedent” to impose a 15 point deduction, no administration no need for a CVA.

6 Because it was Bates and only Bates who spoke of liquidating the club.

7 Because it was Bates who drove 10,000 loyal supporters away with his excessive price rises in 2006 and who continues to deny he made a massive mistake.

8 Because it is Bates no-one will do business with. Club after club are getting new investment and deep pocket owners but 3 years on and we await the first of the promised investment

9 Because it is Bates who falls out with anyone who dares ask questions, MP’s, council, newspapers, fans groups and websites, ex directors, the police, even the local hospice.

10 Because it is Bates who always be the template for the outdated, old-fashioned authoritarian club owner, (a man who makes Doug Ellis look like a benevolent astute visionary) with his bile and bluster making the name of our great club soiled more and more.

These facts will never go away; these memories can only fade with closure, a closure only possible when Mr Ken Bates is removed from Leeds United. That’s why Love Leeds Hate Bates is doing its campaign on Saturday, that’s why it will continue its mission until success, be it in League1 with points deduction or back in the big-time. The team is OURS not his, we will celebrate its successes, feel the pain of failures, its our voice shouting and cheering on OUR team, something Bates would never understand, but before kick-off we will also contribute most to our long term well-being, by stating load and clear, BATES OUT.

The wit and wisdom of Ken Bates – Program Notes 2006-07

Below is a series of our glorified fund managers musings in his programme column in the season before administration.

Norwich 05/08/06.

“Our Media investments reflect another major step forward….we have inaugurated Yorkshire Radio…that gives us a potential audience of some 16 million viewers”.

When challenged on the £450,000 Yorkshire Radio claimed from the administrators Bates stated “it is clearly separate from the club”.

“With Jermaine Wright and Michael Ricketts we simply cut our losses”  Yet we still owed Ricketts over £115,000 when we went into admin.

Wolves 10/09/06

“Wage costs will fall dramatically next season and we should be clear of external debt by then”.

“It costs £25m a year to run the club”*1

Sunderland 13/09/06

“looking ahead we must ensure a strong income stream off the field. …..we must exploit the other 340 days a year. Because the rent, rates, insurances and security are paid for already, every other activity should be quite profitable once established.” In February 2007 the club applied for Business Rate Relief from Leeds City Council.

Barnet 19/09/06

“In my business career spanning 50 years I have been involved in many an investment situation….As it happens I can reveal there are a number of substantial people who recognise the value and future of Leeds United and are contacting me as I write….this is how serious business is conducted”

Birmingham City 25/09/06

“Who do you think has been paying off the debt since January 2005? My seats in the directors box must be the most expensive in football history.”

“Leeds budget (wage bill) for this season is £12.1m” (see *1)

“So at the end of the Blackwell era where are we?….we have greatly reduced our costs and improved the efficiency of the clubs administration…as of 30^th September our old debt will have been reduced to £6.581m and we are owed money from Chelsea* 2…next season our wage bill will halve. We have achieved a great deal and have much to be proud of.”

Colchester 11/11/06

“the question I ask is does Leeds DESERVE a Premiership Club or indeed do the good citizens of Leeds really WANT a Premiership club at all, let alone a successful one?”

Southampton 18/11/06

“The Chelsea drama is finally over….I can reveal the final cost to Chelsea was 10 times their original proposal” (see * 2)

Barnsley 02/12/06

“in the past…has helped to destroy the clubs credibility. We are slowly regaining that and making good steady progress. This summer should see the last of the excesses of the past”.

Derby County 09/12/06

“We are still considering prices for next season. The wage bill will fall dramatically. There will still be old debts to pay, though fewer of them”

Hull City 23/12/06

“Despite our current league position the Club is in much better shape than it was two years ago and we are almost there”.

West Bromwich Albion 20/01/07

“in season 2005-06 the total cash we took from all sources was about £30m (see*1), this season it will be£22m. The wage bill last season was £13.4m this season it will be about £12.2m, next year it shouldfall to £5m……we pay rent of £1.6m and rates of £0.5m and we have paid over £5m to the tax man….we still owe£1.77m to some of our ex players and £2.6m to the tax man.”

Crystal Palace 10/02/07

“Last week we closed our Club Shops…..we will be saving £650,000 a year”.

“On another front we have closed down the kids’ hostel at thorp arch….this could save the club £200,000pa. All part of the process of cutting our cloth and balancing the books.”

Queens Park Rangers 20/02/07

“we are examining every aspect of how we run the club and what it costs to do so. What we are trying to do is examine every facet of the clubs administration, what it costs and how we can do it cheaply and more efficiently. The playing staff is relatively simple, we know that we are going to half our costs with contract terminations and the end of player compensation.”

Sheffield Wednesday 03/03/07.

“the other partners in YC were prepared to transfer the shares but since all YC’s decisions have to be unanimous, Levi’s refusal effectively frustrated completion. I have to say that the behaviour of Messrs Simon and Bryan Morris, David Richmond and Melvin Helme have been totally honourable throughout.”

Preston North End 30/03/07

“if Mr Levin wants to invest in Leeds he is welcome to discuss the matter, however he had better get a move on as there are other horses in the race.”

Burnley 14/04/07

“With the current wave of takeovers in football clubs it is inevitable that Leeds United’s name comes into the frame….Leeds needs more capital investment to accelerate the speed at which the club can regain its former prominence…the last two and half years have been hard graft, some of the decisions have been unpopular. However the reconstruction is nearly complete, we are almost rid of our spendthrift past.

Lest we forget how much manure this man throws at us.

Even Ken can be amusing… but only in an offensive way

Before Leeds.

“Take Ruud Gullit. I didn’t like his arrogance. In fact, I never liked him. But while he was delivering the goods, there was no problem. When he lost the plot he had to go.”

“I parted on good terms with Luca Vialli. As he left the room and I led him to the door, we departed with the usual Italian formalities of a bear hug and a kiss.”

“It takes one to know one. I’m surprised Martin O’Neill actually knows a word as big as cretin.”

“I’m delighted for Claudio Ranieri that we beat Fulham in the FA Cup semi-final, as if we’d lost yesterday, it would have been a pity to sack him just after he’d signed a new contract!”

“Managers who criticise referees should be banned from the touchline and if they can’t control their players they should be suspended themselves.”

“I’m not being funny but some of the home-grown kids don’t know what it’s like in the real world and don’t realise how great Chelsea Football Club is. I’m not reading them bedtime stories any more.”

“Makelele? Who does he play for? I’ve only ever heard of his brother, Ukelele.”

“I got calls from Italy last summer and one agent offered me Gabriel Batistuta. He told me ‘Batistuta wants to come to Chelsea’. I said ‘I’m sure he does, but we’ve stopped signing pensioners’.”

“Everybody wants to speak to me now I’ve got money.”

“Even Jesus Christ only had one Pontius Pilate – I had a whole team of them.”
On standing down from the Wembley National Stadium Board

“I put in 70 hours a week and quite honestly Chelsea could not pay me what I’m worth.”

“We needed someone with bigger pockets than I have got.”

“The king is dead. Well he’s retired anyway.”

“At first they were a shambles. Now they have descended via farce to make them a laughing stock. It has come to a pretty pass when Fifa criticise our performance.”

“They remind me of New Labour spin-doctors, which I’m sure in one or two cases they’d quite like to be. Let them put a name to their quotes if that’s what they think of me. They won’t because they’re cowards.”

“Poverty among fans is grossly exaggerated when you see what they spend elsewhere. A small minority are poor and can’t afford it.”

“Just what makes them [corporate hospitality clients] any different from the fan who meets his mates around the corner from the ground, eats pie and chips at a local restaurant, washed down by a bottle of wine or a few pints and then walks to the ground?”

“All those toilet rolls coming on from Besiktas fans was orchestrated. They wanted to get the kick-off delayed so they would know what the other result was before our game finished. I said to Roman Abramovich, ‘if you fancy making another billion, go and open another toilet factory in Turkey’.”

At Leeds.

“We will obviously make very deep cuts this summer to balance our budget for next year, but we will do what we can with what we can afford. The fans have to be realistic. Lower ticket prices and big spending on players are not compatible. But I know Dennis will get the best out of our limited resources and the players he signs.

“There are plenty of people talking to us about possible investment but they don’t want to put their money in just to carry on subsidising a club. Nobody does. Football clubs have to be run as businesses. Our fans have to appreciate that.

“The people of Leeds tell me they need a successful club. They have to get off their backsides and support us. Most of the criticism comes from people who never come to the club. We will get there and when we do we will remember those people who supported us and, more importantly, we will remember those people who didn’t support us. Revenge will be a dish best eaten cold.”

Chief Executive Shaun Harvey was more conciliatory, saying in a club statement, “We need to make considered and structured decisions both on and off the field over the forthcoming weeks to position ourselves to use next season as a springboard to go forward from. There will be (and has been) a significant amount of speculation as to what the future holds for the club financially, particularly from would-be investors who want to become involved/own Leeds United. This type of speculation is currently rife both at Leeds United and football in general but our message remains consistent in so much as anyone interested in becoming financially involved should contact us with full details of who they are and proof of funds to show they are able to assist us.” April 2007 days before administration.

LEEDS United faces a bill for damages after an employment tribunal found the club and one its managers subjected an employee to racial and sexual discrimination.

Yvonne Campbell, a hospitality worker at Elland Road, was passed over for promotion four times.
Her boss, catering manager Alan Hegarty, had denied calling ethnic minority employees “jungle bunnies”, “tree swingers” and referring to them as “coming off a banana boat”. But the tribunal decided Mr Hegarty had made racist comments “when under stress”, although this was “some considerable time ago”. It said Mr Hegarty was “more naturally inclined” to value the skills of white, male employees and it would not be surprising if he had devalued Mrs Campbell’s abilities, although he may have done so subconsciously. It concluded that Mrs Campbell, a mother-of-two, had been discriminated against and victimised on the grounds of her race and sex. The ruling is a blow for the club and its chairman Ken Bates, who strongly rejected Mrs Campbell’s version of events in his programme notes last month. Nov 2005 which stated:

“You may have seen newspaper reports about an indusrial tribunal in which Yvonne Campbell, a mixed race Leeds United employee, claimed racial discrimination against the club, alleging being passed over for promotion because of the colour of her skin. At the time of writing we are waiting the tribunal decision.

However, since the heaaring a number of matters have come to light which question the veracity of her story. This new information was given by her mother and stepfather, both of whom came forward voluntarily. Apparently her CV was false and she does not have 9 “O” levels as claimed – her sister did. Other allegations include that she was moved from the City of Leeds school and transferred to Iverson House in Cookridge, an exclusion school on behavioural and attendance grounds.

For the record, Leeds United do not practice racial discrimination. At the first staff meeting, when i became chairman, I stated that race, colour, creed or religion would be no bar for advancement to the highest positions within the club. Similarly, there are no excuses for poor work standards or incompetence. Leeds United has complete faith in Alan Hegarty.”

“What a few fans are trying to do is cause trouble. They (the rest) wouldn’t give a shit if Putin bought the club as long as it was successful” - Ken Bates,  about Love Leeds Hate Bates.

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