Bates: Leeds talks continue

Leeds remain in talks with potential investors despite reports of a breakdown in communication, according to owner Ken Bates.

The npower Championship club revealed on June 26 that they had granted an exclusivity period to would-be investors, but issued a statement on August 10 confirming that period had ended with no deal being reached.

Subsequent stories suggested that any deal to either invest or takeover the club was off but, writing in his programme notes ahead of today’s season-opener with Wolves, Bates admitted talks are still ongoing with the same, unnamed party.

“Suffice to say that the exclusivity period granted to the original would-be investor have now lapsed, but we are continuing talks with the same people,” he said.

Bates has become an unpopular figure with large sections of the Elland Road support over his seven-year tenure, with a number of them mounting protests against him for a perceived lack of investment in the team.

He insists that any abuse directed towards him is only putting the skids on a deal being struck.

“We have to get it right and public comment and chants doesn’t help,” he added.

“They have discouraged two parties who didn’t like what they saw or heard.”