Blimey, GFH really do know how to get on the right side of Leeds fans! On 28 Jul 2013, at 00:32, Simon Austin <[email protected]> wrote:
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/27/ken-bates-sacked-leeds-jet > > > Ken Bates says he was abruptly sacked from his tenure as the Leeds > United <http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/leedsunited> president by the > new owners, GFH, after he entered the club into a contract with the > private aeroplane company 247 Jet <http://www.247jet.biz/>that could be > used to fly him to Leeds from his Monaco home. > > The cost of this contract to which Bates committed the Championship > club, which is under financial strain, is thought to be £500,000 over > three years. > > Previously Bates has been flown by private jet. The costs of use of a > private jet to the club is understood from sources who have seen the > Leeds accounts to be around £120,000 a year. He told the /Observer/ that > his expenses had not changed for the eight years he was Leeds chairman, > and that GFH were well aware of them when they bought the club in > December. He declined to cover the details of precisely what they covered. > > A key sticking point with GFH is that Bates did not gain the approval of > the board for the new, three-year private jet contract. Bates argues he > was not able to do so, and he was advised in June that as a director of > the club, he was able to bind the club into the contract. > > "I saved the club money, because this was a sterling contract, rather > than euros," Bates said. "I did it in the best interests of the club." > > Currently on holiday in Italy with his wife Suzannah, Bates said he > received a hand-delivered letter last Wednesday from GFH, raising > concerns. He expected to deal with it on his return from holiday, but > instead: "Two days later, they told me I was sacked." > > Describing his treatment as "despicable," Bates said he is considering > suing. GFH said there were confidentiality agreements in place, and > declined to comment. > > > > On 26/07/2013 21:08, Andy Pyzer wrote: >> Leeds United have confirmed that Ken Bates has left his role as their >> president, ending his eight-and-a-half-year association with the club. >> The often-outspoken former Chelsea chairman bought Leeds in January 2005 and >> held power at the club until signing over to the current owner, GFH Capital, >> in December last year. >> Bates remained as chairman until 30 June when he started a three-year term >> as president but that was abruptly ended on Friday night. >> A short statement from the managing director, David Haigh, read: "Ken Bates >> has ceased to be president of Leeds United Football Club. Mr Bates will now >> no longer have any role within the football club." >> It remains to be seen whether Bates, 81, will return to football in any >> capacity. He famously bought Chelsea for £1 before selling out to Roman >> Abramovich in 2003. >> >> in the words of Basil Fawlty ' don't drive over any land mines' ........ >> >> MOT >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leedslist mailing list >> Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist >> To unsubscribe, email [email protected] >> >> MARCHING ON TOGETHER > > _______________________________________________ > Leedslist mailing list > Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist > To unsubscribe, email [email protected] > > MARCHING ON TOGETHER _______________________________________________ Leedslist mailing list Info and options: http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/leedslist To unsubscribe, email [email protected] MARCHING ON TOGETHER
