Bates arrival ‘turning point for Leeds’
After assuming control of Leeds a week ago, buying a 50% stake for a figure believed to be £10 million, Bates will finally unveil himself to the supporters today.
After deciding not to attend the games at Stoke and Derby in the past few days, the 73-year-old will watch Blackwell’s side for the first time when Brighton visit Elland Road.
Jokingly, Bates is hoping for an “adulatory” response when he takes to the directors’ box, despite his former 22-year allegiance to Chelsea.
The Leeds faithful are certainly expected to afford Bates a warm welcome after rescuing the club from the threat of administration, and not least for giving Blackwell what he has described as his “unequivocal support.”
Upon hearing of Bates’ takeover, Blackwell pleaded to be given time to finish a job he only started in the summer following the club’s relegation from the Premiership.
After meeting Bates yesterday he has been given that opportunity, and after two-and-a-half years of misery for the Whites, the 43-year-old believes the bad times are over.
“Since the Terry Venables era all we have become accustomed to at this club is selling,” said Blackwell, who now has control over future player sales according to Bates.
“Everything has been sell, sell, sell, almost to a point where we have ended up with nothing, but now we are no longer in that position,” he said.
“In many respects I think we are looking at a watershed for the club, a turning point and finally we can rebuild and plan positively for the future.”
With Leeds still requiring three more victories to stave off the prospect of relegation, it is hoped the first of those will come today to give Bates the ideal start at home.
There is the prospect the game could become a sideshow given Bates’ presence.
Nevertheless, Blackwell believes it won’t prove a distraction for the players.
“When you consider all the players have had to cope with anyway, I don’t think that will worry them too much,” he said.
“They’ve had lots of distractions to contend with, not least whether they would get paid and whether the club would go into administration,” added Blackwell.
“I actually see it as a positive tomorrow - the launch of a new era - and we all hope there is a positive result to go with it.”
Blackwell has problems, though, in particular in attack as Julian Joachim is out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury, while Michael Ricketts is sidelined with a knee problem.
Brian Deane is available and will play “at some stage” according to Blackwell despite a heavy strapping to a shoulder after only returning last week following a four-week lay-off, while midfielder Danny Pugh is suspended.
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