Comments on: Leeds United poker online. Has Bates shown his hand early?

By: Gledders

Gledders — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:32:38 +0000

I’m not totally naive and a lot of Leeds fans think the same way I do. I respect your opinion if not the way you put it.

Perhaps you might like to read this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2004/mar/07/sport.features1

Of course football is a business. The biggest leisure orientated business in the UK. As for passion, well I’d point to David Moores and Freddy Shepherd. Look what has happened at both those clubs once those owners moved on. I truly believe that money is not the only motivation to success. Just in case you don’t know this little gem, Chelsea were more indebted than Leeds United and were allegedly only saved from administration because Abramovich’s helicopter flew over Stamford Bridge on the way back from White Hart Lane. Plus there must be a reason why investors are not flocking to Leeds to flash the cash on one of English football’s best known brands. Imagine how successful we might be now if we were run by somebody who cares.

Oh and as you asked, I’m drinking a pint of water. Blue tap…

By: Sir Quej

Sir Quej — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:14:50 +0000

Gledders, people like you make me laugh to be honest…. If you really think club owners own football teams because they have “passion” for the club or game then I would like to order a pint of whatever you are drinking. Of course Bates/FSF/Astor investments or whoever he wants to call himself these days wants to make money off the club. Football is a business these days, get used to it. The fact is though that the better the club does, the more money Bates will make so I for one am happy for pappa smurf to make money while getting the club in the premiership…. Its a simple fact of life that money motivates people and the Bates will make decisions based on what will make him the most money. No one would willingly make a decision that will cost them money.

By: Gledders

Gledders — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 12:21:21 +0000

I’m not sure just what you mean. Nobody knows who FSF are but if they are a group of small shareholders, then they will delegate decisions to their fund manager. That means Ken Bates. If it is one huge investor, then that will be him also.

There is very little operating profit in football full stop. Returns are made on sale of the club or sometimes a large salary for the directors. Most revenue tends to be invested in wages because people like Ray Ranson and Stephen Schecter have taken the financing of players transfer fees off the backs of (some) clubs. Essentially, the higher a club gets, the more indebted it gets, shareholder dividends rarely exist and the only choices available are a benefactor or to sell.

That goes around the point however which is that the first year Leeds Utd announced a £4 million profit, then they sold Delph and then they didn’t have enough money to buy TA. However, they still had enough to pay £5.85 million to Astor Holdings – the previous owners of Leeds United. (Figures are from memory but I believe them to be correct)

At the end of the day, it is Bates’ club and he can do what he wants with it so we’re all wasting our breath. But if you take that view, why turn up to watch every Saturday? The answer is because we care about our club and that’s why I personally can’t stomach the double standards. I, like every fan want to see profits invested in players.

By: Colin

Colin — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:44:42 +0000

I agree with the fact that Cascarino doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The Times article is just another story to fill a hole in the column inches. No one will buy Leeds anytime soon. The board have no say over the ownership of the club. That is purely the responsibility of Forward Sports Fund. We don’t know who FSF are, but we do know it’s not Bates. So I’d forget Bates, who is only allowed to spend limited time in the UK because he’s not a UK resident. The board don’t run the club, FSF do. For example, even if Bates wanted to keep Beckford, the call on whether he goes or Leeds take the money in January is down to FSF.

FSF are in this to make money and as Leeds continue to perform better and better, the money also increases. I don’t reckon they have any intention of selling.
If Bates moved on, then I’m pretty sure that FSF would just let Shaun Harvey take over.

By: Gledders

Gledders — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:09:27 +0000

People like you have made me cynical GOM. I used to like Bates.

By: Grumpy Older Man

Grumpy Older Man — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:00:04 +0000

I personally wouldn’t take a Tony Cascarino seriously on any subject, never mind Bates. Ignore it.