Bates: No ban on Ridsdale

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has denied he has banned Peter Ridsdale from Elland Road, but confirmed he was no longer welcome in the boardroom.

Former Leeds chairman Ridsdale, now chief executive at Cardiff, verbally clashed with Bates following the Welsh side’s 1-0 win at Elland Road on Saturday.

Ridsdale claimed after the match he had been thrown out of the boardroom and banned from the club because of his celebrations after Willo Flood’s late winner.

But in a statement, Bates countered: “As ever Mr Ridsdale continues to be out of touch with reality. My words, in front of a number of witnesses, were: ‘You’re no longer welcome in the boardroom at Elland Road’.

“If he was ever banned from Elland Road it would purely be for safety reasons.”

Former Leeds chairman Ridsdale quit his post at Elland Road in March 2003 with the club over £100m (€147m) in debt.