Bullish Blues vow to fight ex-chairman Bates’ £2m lawsuit

CHELSEA have vowed to “vigorously defend” a stg£2million writ brought against them by Ken Bates as the row between the outgoing chairman and owner Roman Abramovich threatened to end in court.

Bates is suing Chelsea for what he claims was a breach of the contract he signed with Abramovich last summer.

He believed the deal entitled him to generous expense allowances for work on club business, as well as the honour of representing Chelsea at Football Association and Premier League meetings for the next two years.