Bates blast at Blues’Russian revolution

FORMER Chelsea chairman Ken Bates has launched a stinging attack on the new regime at Stamford Bridge and offered a passionate defence of under-pressure manager Claudio Ranieri.

Bates, who is keen to return to the game with Sheffield Wednesday, has labelled some of owner Roman Abramovich's big-money signings "mercenaries" and claims the Russian way of doing business has been blighted by years of communism.

"The way Ranieri has been treated is quite shameful and he doesn't deserve it," said Bates.