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Bates warns Leeds are facing the abyss


KEN BATES believes that Leeds United stand on the brink of oblivion after Britain's Revenue and Customs launched a legal challenge to the chairman's controversial buy-back deal for the club.


The case could be heading for the High Court, although Bates, who placed the club in administration on May 4, with relegation to Coca-Cola League One all but certain, before promptly forming a new company to buy it back, had given warning that any appeal would send the club into liquidation and out of business.

Although creditors narrowly accepted Bates's initial offer of one pence in the pound last month, Revenue and Customs, which is owed £7.7million in unpaid taxes, took up the option of appealing on the last of the 28 days available.

Conscious that a challenge was looming, Bates had increased his offer to eight pence in the pound on Monday night and indicated that a refusal to accept would mark the end for a club that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.

A spokesman for KPMG, the club's administrator, said: "We are reviewing the notification of appeal and considering our response. Leeds United is not in liquidation and the status quo remains.

"We are in control of the company because the CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement) has been considered and approved." The Football League is set to meet KPMG today in a bid to help to resolve the issue.

As the deadline approached yesterday Bates said: "If there is a legal challenge, it could take two or three months to get to court and be decided. In the meantime, who is going to pay to run the club?

"So far it's been funded by the 'new Leeds', but if there is a challenge, the 'new Leeds' won't do it because it's a risk. The implications are that the club would close down." (© The Times, London)

All together now, 'SHAME!'

Just been talking to a Leeds fan. He said that because of their past reputation, Bates as chairman, and Wise as manager, they must be the most hated team in England. I told him that his horizons were a bit narrow and he should make that in Europe.

It's really breaking my heart to see this once great club sliding down the drain to oblivion, :thumbsup: :) :) :)

Just been talking to a Leeds fan. He said that because of their past reputation, Bates as chairman, and Wise as manager, they must be the most hated team in England. I told him that his horizons were a bit narrow and he should make that in Europe.

It's really breaking my heart to see this once great club sliding down the drain to oblivion, :thumbsup: :) :) :)

Not sure whether you're being serious or not with your last sentence.
Personally I do think it's a shame where they're heading under that money-grubbing idiot.
You just have to feel for their loyal fans and at the end of the day it's still a Yorkshire club. :(

Not sure whether you're being serious or not with your last sentence.
Personally I do think it's a shame where they're heading under that money-grubbing idiot.
You just have to feel for their loyal fans and at the end of the day it's still a Yorkshire club. :(

hate 'em, hate 'em, hate 'em. They were arrogant, dirty, sneaky and mardy. Thinking they were above the rules.

And their fans were amongst the worst when it came to invading pitches a few years back. If they were losing with 5 minutes to go then they were on and trying to get the game abandoned.

Not sure whether you're being serious or not with your last sentence.
Personally I do think it's a shame where they're heading under that money-grubbing idiot.
You just have to feel for their loyal fans and at the end of the day it's still a Yorkshire club. :(


no i don't pal, and if we were in the same situation they wouldn't give 2 ****s either- i hope they fold and take that horrible scummy club and all there supporters to the sunday leagues where they belong.

It couldn't happen to a better/worse (perspective permitting) club than Leeds, lets hope Egghead Magnusson takes a leaf out of the the mad gnomes book and crumbles West Scam's biscuit in the same way

Well said couldn't agree more.

Didn't realize the depth of feeling against them.
Still feel a little sad for their "normal" supporters though.
Surely they can't all be bad ?

no, he's probably a decent chap

All together now: -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyH5mfQntg

:hihi:

I think it is terrible to see any English football club cease personally!

All together now: -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyH5mfQntg

:hihi:

PMSL at this. Anybody in this county who does'nt come from Leeds, feels the same way, the demise of any club is sad but I don't think many of us will shed a tear for this lot.

Showed this to our mate (who's an owl, we've all got 1) same reaction

This one is very funny too


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCqcTR5G1qo&mode=related&search=

Priceless!!

It all depends on what happens now.

If Bates were to still get away with his "one penny in the pound" offer to creditors, and only pay the IR a derisory amount; he'll have effectively wiped out virtually all Leeds' debt in one go; and that club will be a lot stronger than a couple of others closer to home (still saddled with such).

It all depends on what happens now.

If Bates were to still get away with his "one penny in the pound" offer to creditors, and only pay the IR a derisory amount; he'll have effectively wiped out virtually all Leeds' debt in one go; and that club will be a lot stronger than a couple of others closer to home (still saddled with such).

After what happened with the westham farce anything is possible, the inquiry found that they were deceitful about Teves but yet they got away with it, who said honesty pays.

After what happened with the westham farce anything is possible, the inquiry found that they were deceitful about Teves but yet they got away with it, who said honesty pays.

Disregarding all the politics, i just think it's a massive shame what has happened to Leeds.

Bad club managment (financially) has cost a massive club not only it's Premiership status but potentially, it's mere existance.

A club and city that size should be in the Premier league and know doubt would have been still if it was run right initially.

I feel sorry for the fans, they don't deserve it!

PMSL at this. Anybody in this county who does'nt come from Leeds, feels the same way, the demise of any club is sad but I don't think many of us will shed a tear for this lot.

Speak for yourself and the other fickle fans that think a club with the history and potential that Leeds possess could someday soon no longer excist, is actually funny! You really are a bitter set of B******s

I feel sorry for the fans, they don't deserve it!

Didn’t the first west ham enquiry say that, sorry it cuts no ice , if the club are in the wrong they must pay the price whether that be Leeds or West Ham

Didn’t the first west ham enquiry say that, sorry it cuts no ice , if the club are in the wrong they must pay the price whether that be Leeds or West Ham

Well no, the the difference is the first tribunal decided within the law that we should be where we are, as well as the table.

I still think the decision was was wrong, but ........

The club were in the wrong (West Sham), but we have to face up to where we are.

As for Boston, whose fans have been relegated again for trying to do what Weeds have done (admittedly in the light of years of financial mismanagement), and what has happened to Scarborough fans, I only hope that the Weeds glory hunters realise how close they are from death of their hated club.

Good luck to Boston, if the fans' consortium can sort them out; good riddance to Weeds.

The latest news is that Leeds may not be allowed to start the new season

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6277752.stm

"However there ensued a sequence of financial irregularities, including breaking the ban on paying players during the war, that led to the club's dissolution in 1919. They were expelled from The Football League eight games into the 1919-20 season. Port Vale took over their remaining fixtures (as well as their results up to that point).

In the wake of their demise, Leeds United were formed, and entered the Football League the following year." (Wikipedia)

Plus ça change...

Lets all have a disco, lets all have a disco!!! :D:D:D:D

Leeds are close to going out of business!! Woo hoo!!!!!!!

Bring it on.

:hihi::hihi::hihi::hihi:

Didn’t the first west ham enquiry say that, sorry it cuts no ice , if the club are in the wrong they must pay the price whether that be Leeds or West Ham

How many other companies, small businesses upwards, are allowed to "offer" to pay their taxes and get away with it to this extent?

The whole think stinks of Phoenixism. If this was a double glazing company that was allowed to disolve, pay its creditors 1p in the pound then start up the next day as a new company people would go spare.