Taken from Yorkshire Radio’s interview with Leeds United owner Ken Bates today…
‘Mr Chairman’ speaks to Ben Fry about Kasper Schmeichel’s move to Leicester City, transfer goings on behind the scenes, fixture scheduling, suing the police, Shaun Harvey’s incredible rise (not his pay packet), the new away ticket system and Christmas.
Ben Fry: Chairman, we’ll start with Kasper Schmeichel. His move to Leicester was completed this week. Do you feel it’s a good move for the club?
Ken Bates: Yes, it is a good move for the club. When we talked to Schmeichel’s agent, he made it quite clear he didn’t really want to sign an extended contract, which means we would lose him next summer and he said he thought he was worthy of Premiership football, which was a matter of debate as far as I was concerned. In the circumstances, we considered the matter and decided there’s no point in keeping a player who is just using us as a stepping stone to moving on. Furthermore, the indications of his salary requirements were, in my opinion, unrealistic and we thought he had a mixed season anyway, a bit like curate’s egg; good in parts, bad in parts. So we thought it was better to move on, take a good profit, which of course goes into Simon’s fighting fund, and look around elsewhere. We have already signed one goalkeeper, of course, but we’re looking for another one to ensure we’re covered in depth and that process is ongoing. So we wish Schmeichel luck but we don’t see him as any great loss.
BF: The goalkeeper you mentioned, Paul Rachubka is the first signing of the summer. Are you close to making any more before the players come back for pre-season?
KB: Well, dealing with Rack-ub-cha, he had played over 200 games for Blackpool’s first team and of course, Simon signed him so he knows him, so he’s very confident having got him here. Other transfers; it’s a bit like buses. None come along, then two or three come along at once. All around the country, the players are now reporting back to training and the agents have had their holiday so perhaps we can start getting some bits of stuff done. It’s really difficult to do business when players are not around because we insist on meeting the players before we agree to sign them. After all the agent isn’t going to pull on the No5 shirt on August 6, so we need to meet the player and get a feeling of his attitude and get a look at his fitness etc etc. So that’s really why we have not made any apparent signings so far. Another thing is a lot of clubs can’t decide what to do with some of their players and of course there is the pressure of the Premiership. If you can go to a Premiership club, you’re not going to go… it’s very rare that you’ll go to a Championship club. So we have been patient. There are two or three players that have slipped through our fingers but, again, they’ve gone to Premiership clubs, which we can’t really complain about. I can assure all the fans, there’s an awful lot of work going on behind the scenes.
BF: Now the players are back in training on Thursday, have you spoken to Simon? Is it going to be work, work, work?
KB: Well I speak to Simon three times a day. In fact in all aspects of club affairs, I either made or took 62 phone calls yesterday. The last one was at 7.30pm last night, the first one was at 8.10am, so yes, an awful lot of activity is going on and Simon is all geared up and so are the players. Some of them have already come back. Lloyd Sam for example has been having treatment throughout the summer because of his niggling injury. So we’re determined to get off to a good start.
BF: Now the fixture schedule looks a little bit more complete now there has been a few more changes. Do you think this is a little bit closer to the finished article or have we got more changes to come?
KB: In my eyes, the fixture list is what you see and the only other changes inevitably is the TV because the TV companies obviously want to see how the season is panning out and that’s why they choose their TV games in blocks and that’s why unfortunately sometimes there is an inconvenience to the fans but there’s nothing we can do about it because the Football League have got this contractual obligation with the TV companies who give us the money therefore we have to be messed around. What we do try to do, we try to minimise the inconvenience as far as possible with games being moved but then again you see we have already got one moved and that’s the Bradford City game which was brought forward to Tuesday from the Wednesday. But it’s a big derby, it should be a good, exciting game. We have already sold over 6,000 tickets which is good for a game which is not taking place for six or seven weeks. We just have to live with it but I can assure the fans we try to a) get the decisions as soon as possible and b) to try get them moved either earlier or later rather than switching the day. But Leeds United are a popular club with the TV companies, that’s why we’re under more pressure than most.
BF: Now some games have been moved at police request. Whilst we’re talking about the police, there’s details in the Yorkshire Evening Post of a dispute between the West Yorkshire Constabulary and Leeds United. Can you shed any light on this?
KB: Well first of all, we are in dispute with the police over police costs and our lawyers have advised us to say nothing and we have complied with that advice. Unfortunately, some idiot little journalist wrote a story which wasn’t accurate and put it on the website. We have had it removed since then with an apology from the YEP for the damage that has been done. But I thought the reaction of the Deputy Chief Constable David Crompton… I thought it was a bit unfortunate. I think the problem is, in true reflection, he would probably regret what he said, which I don’t intend to expand on or reply to. I simply say this matter will be decided in the courts and not in the pages of the YEP.
BF: Now last week it was announced that Leeds chief exec Shaun Harvey has joined the Football League board. Is it important that a club the size of Leeds has some representation on the board?
KB: Well it’ll be a good chance for Shaun to make sure everybody gets fined 15 points except us, for example. That’s one small example of one advantage that could take place. But more seriously, it is important. It’s a compliment and a recognition of the ability of Shaun Harvey that he has been elected to represent the Championship on the Football League board and he’ll do a good job. It also gives us a voice, if you like, in the corridors of power because we are a big club and sometimes decisions that the Football League make are all in favour of the small clubs which is something that isn’t altogether fair. But Shaun will do a good job. I’m sure he will strengthen the board and it’ll be to the benefit of football that he is there.
BF: And next up, a new away ticket procedure has been announced for the 2011/12 campaign. Is this another effort from the club to try and smooth the way for fans to get the tickets for the games that they want?
KB: Well, I think that we always listen to fans’ comments and we’re always trying to improve the service. Of course, it’s not always possible to do what fans want because it’s not always realistic. Sometimes we’re having disputes over the way tickets are allocated for play-off finals and that sort of thing. And I sometimes say to the complainant, “well what would you do?” The system they want is basically, “give me my ticket and bugger everybody else,” which isn’t quite the balanced proposal we’re looking for. But there is a point being made that tickets are going to be in scarce supply this year and therefore we should do them on a loyalty basis. The more people that support and go away to the less-popular games, if you like, should be given priority when the big games come up or when there’s a shortage of tickets. I think that’s very fair. And Katies Holmes, our indefatigable ticket office manager, worked with Mark Broadley of our IT department to make sure a new computerised system – don’t ask the details, I’m too old for that – which hopefully will be fairer for the majority of fans.
BF: Now finally for today, whilst we’re sat here enjoying some June sunshine, the club is already planning for Christmas. Is Christmas an important time for the club’s off-field activities with the Pavilion and the conference facilities?
KB: Well, the thing is, it’s important for the club that off-field activities are throughout the season and throughout the year but obviously at Christmas, for obvious reasons, it is peak time and the club has to book their events at the Pavilion and Nicky Chapman suite and venues, just the same as anybody else. So we have to make the decisions early, which we have done. So we now know when the Member’s Party will be, when the Carol Concert will be and we even know when the End of Season Party will be, as well as others in the pipeline. It’s important because others can put it in their diary and plan accordingly.
Share this article from The Square Ball on:
23 Responses to What Ken Said – 29.06.11 – Police State
Leave a Reply
Leeds United News 24/7
Bates claims Scheimchel’s salary requirements were “unrealistic”. This goes against any quotes I’ve heard from Kasper who has always stated that money is not his motivation. Reading between the lines, it’s clear that Bates just wanted to pay Kasper a fraction of his true worth.
Bates & Grayson have tried to justify Kasper’s departure by telling us all what a terrible keeper Kasper is. Does anybody actully believe this bollox? We’ve now replaced him by signing Blackpool’s third choice keeper who just so happens to be available on a free transfer.
Nice piece of business, Mr.Bates. see you in League One!!
I have had enough of bates shite, if he wasn’t good enough why did he make 40 league apearances? I believe kasper over that mug, its simple you saw a quick profit and snapped leicesters hand off in the hope you could sign a keeper on the free. You’ve made leeds united look like an absolute shamble, i wouldn’t blame gradel or snodgrass for leaving when we’re treating their team mates like this.
I for one will not be renewing my season ticket nor will i buy anything leeds united untill the club shows an ambition to take leeds united forward with football results not in hotel pipedreams and fancy boxes.
Bates has raped us enough and my asshole and pocket are hurting.
ken bates has done wonders for leeds utd,as he did at chelsea before,and will take leeds back to the premiership before selling to a rich new owner for a big profit like at chelsea.good luck to him and fair play.All ridsdale left was a wreck of a once great club.
Lee, some of us have an almost extra sensory nasal factor, others take awhile until the waft of bullshit fills their nasal passages. You my friend are beyond the latter, simple facts are.
Uncle Ken owns LUFC has done for quite a while
Uncle Ken is a profiteer, LUFC equals revenue stream
Uncle Ken took us to the abyss, and then became our only saviour.
Uncle Ken wants to invest the future in real estate, not the playing staff.
I am getting bored of typing mono syllables to get you to smell the the coffee
Lee, I suspect you really live in Monaco and have a vulgar cockney mouth. People like you are not wanted or welcome at this club. Thanks to your misguided show of support, you simply make the task of ridding LUFC of Bates more lengthly than it should be.
Excellent comment, I couldn’t agree more
I honestly believe Bates is 1000 times worst than Ridsdale.
Reasons being, Ridsdale ruined our club through wreckless/over-ambitious spending.
Bates is a crook who will sell anything he can & spending as little as possible on the team. Any cash gained from transfer sales goes straight into his pocket.
I wouldn’t want to risk the clubs future by over spending, but at the moment Bates is shafting the supporters by charging Premier League prices to watch a team of free tranfers and loan players.
Even Huddersfield & Doncaster show more ambition than us. How pathetic is that?!!
It always makes me laugh when people try to defend Ken Bates. He has ripped the soul out of our club and we keep taking it. Season ticket prices are ridiculous, we can only listen to commentary on his radio station, we can only read about Leeds in his magazine, anyone that speaks out is banned from the ground and the supporters trust are absolutely petrified of him.
The people have no voice and his shady dealings have turned us into a joke.
But worst of all is that the fans believe what he says, we need to get him out before he completely kills the club.
Leeds utd does not need Ken Bates.
So many people talk utter shit on this page!kasper was good yeah, but he had a mare at times. On top of that he’s a money grabbing big time Charlie! Solid business done for him there. We’ve lost out on money for 3 big players in the last 3 years. 3 players that wanted stupid Money to re sign. It’s time we cashed in and we have. Instead of moaning about everything trust the people in charge! It’s not even July yet for Christ sake! Signings will come and they will be good! Stop with the moaning! If you don’t like how the club is run don’t put your money into it!
I cant believe all this BS about Bates. He put money into the club
when no one would. Since then we wants to make a profit , so fcuking what we would all do the same.
Leeds will be a better club because of financial prudence, and not wasted funds on free tickets to hangers on tight fisted moaners.
You dont want to pay the prices and be in a modern stadium , then go and support Bradford.
Bates will be gone soon, and all the fans will stll be there . So until that happens either support the club in a positive manner
or leave us alone, and stay in front of the TV or radio.
Human nature is always quick to judge when its not your money.
I’m of the wait and see brigade, very few big clubs have fans as owners, I can only think of one in the Premier league and that’s Everton.
There’s an old saying ‘You can fool some people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time’. Bates is like 99.9 of the owners who are in it for profit and business, Ridsdale bet the house on the red and it landed on the black and most of us were round the table egging him on. Bates can’t live forever,if you listen to his ramblings he’s going slightly cuckoo already, he’ll sell when he’s good and ready or until his health fails him, then the club will be sold to some rich Indian or Chino/Russian consortium who have no interest in football or actually know anything about it but are there as an investment or to launder money.
So lets be realistic the club is not and has never been run for the fans, I remember the Manny Cussions days and the 100 club, when things were just the same.So lets wait and see who comes along next but you can bet your bottom dollar it won’t be a fan.
Ken is like my Mother he would cut a pea in half but I’d rather that then my beloved team going out of existence which it very nearly what it did a few years ago.
People are entitled to their opinion on Ken Bates. Fair enough. .
I’ve noticed that virtually all the people who defend Bates, don’t actually go to the games.
ken bates is a straight talker apart from the ownership. scheimchel had a poor season at times from where i was viewing poor communication lots of basic mistakes, great bit of buisness. does anyone recognise COL no i thought not maybe hes a ridsdale
People have short memories! It was our Ken who took Leeds into administration after selling off Rob Hulse & Kilgallon, just a few months after the Playoff final against Watford. He put the millions from Delph sale in the back pocket, when he had promised to buy back thorpe arch. He has sold Kasper, will sell Gradel, then about a week before the season starts, he will sell snoddy.Not for Simons “fighting fund” either.
Why is it that when a Leeds player decides to run down his contract, he get slagged off and put on the transfer list, yet when other teams players run down contracts Bates welcomes them with open arms?
And there I was thinking that it was no central midfield, no left back and a poor cenral defence was the reason why we shipped so many goals and all along it was Kasper’s fault. It’s OK to sell him if we were going to lose him on a free next summer but don’t slagg him off which is Bate’s way when he doesn’t agree with something. As for bates he’s the owner of the club so like it or lump it. He also owns the stadium, otherwise he wouldn’t be able to build on it.
Money for Delph and kids poached by Chelski & Everton = 10-12 million
Delph sold to buy back Thorpe Arch Didn’t Happen Where’s the Money?
biggest gates in the League home and away most weeks on tv several times so plenty coming in.
Investment in players not very much = big Pile of Cash somewhere??
Also for Months Bates denied all knowledge of who owned LUFC as soon as QPR might get docked points and we had a slim chance of getting into the Premiership like a magician pulling a rabbit from a top Hat Ken’s bought us from the unknown owners call me cynical… we will never get investment at the club with Bates at the Helm we are paying Harvey Nics prices for Netto goods
All the people who defend Bates do it because they believe that “He saved the club when no-one else would put the money up”
I get sick of writing to reply that there were 2 other groups with better offers than Bates but he outmanoevered them – possibly illegally to snatch control.
The comments regarding the disaster LUFC have for a chairman sums things up.The legacy he will leave compared to someone like Delia Smith does not bother him.Our turnover and ratio to wages against the Norwich City’s of the world are a joke.Where does all this revenue and compensation for the kids,let alone the transfer fees go ? Not rocket science is it.These Bates apologists make me sick !!
jesus there are some absolute mugs following this club these days
KEN BATES IN A COURT OF LAW SAID HE HAS NOT PUT ONE PENNY INTO LEEDS UNITED – do you understand
he took out a loan to buy the club on behalf of his backers and put that debt against the club, it was this debt along with about 20m of other alleged borrowing that took us into ADMINISTRATION and LEAGUE 1 and it was these so called debts that allowed him to regain control during administration
Nothing to do with risdale and nothing to do with professor plum or kwasner.
This was all over the papers at the time DID YOU MISS IT
if you are too stupid to understand this, start getting yourself down to old trafford or probably more aptly newcastle
the rest of you well done you are starting to get it
Reply to YEBOAH 63.
I am NOT defending Ridsdale, far from it. All I’m saying is Ridsdale’s crazy transfer dealing that got us into trouble. Bates on the other hand is a thief who is sucking the life out of our club. Its clear that he has always secretly owned Leeds United & I’m certain he will own Elland Road Stadium & the training ground.
Your right Col, he wasnt our one and only saviour. he prevented anyone else from getting invloved buy putting a 17m buy in clause. So why are we paying rent when Ken owns the ground and thorpe arch, he isnt pay himself is he!!!! After all you wouldnt build new boxes at another clubs ground would you?
other championship clubs r already investing in new players,all we got 2 show is a third rate keeper!what is going on at leeds
COL
loved every minute of the ridsdale era the players the manager european games id do it all again upto the point where it started going wrong and we found out about the wages. loved every minute of the bates grayson era the manager fa cup(leeds 1 scum 0)league 1 last season wow, dont think it will end the same way yes he might be lining is pockets dont they all but just enjoy it at least we are being run for the long term