Is Bates-Out any different?

30 Jan 2012 01:10 pm, by YorkshireSquare

The website that emerged recently for Bates-Out is actually quite refreshing, just as the whole movement is. No flashy logo, no mission or vision statement, no organisation by comity just a Leeds United badge and some simple plain text but it seems to have had more of an impact than any of the other movements of recent years. Perhaps inspired by the Arab spring but enough seems to have enough for some people and they are taking to the streets, well Elland Road and Lowfields Road anyway.

We’ve seen movements for change before though, but they have never lasted the pace in the past. Leeds United fans are a fairly apathetic bunch really, loyal and vociferous when it comes to supporting their club and trudging across the country to watch them play, but there has never really been an appetite for direct action. Campaigns have started before off the back of a poor run of results and due to our Chairman’s belligerent attitude but they often fade. The team starts winning again and there is little appetite for the fight. Particularly since the issue of our chairman seems to be so divisive, as much as he has his enemy’s he has his staunch supporters too.

Often the campaigns have split Leeds fans, have become arguments between different factions rather than focusing on the key aspect, the leadership of our club. But now more than ever there seems to be support. The chairman’s attitude towards the supporters, the lack of transfer activity, the sale of our best prospects and the stuttering performance on the field have all combines to swing opinion more strongly than I have seen it before.

If the new campaign must learn anything from the past it is to not alienate other supporters. To respect the views of Leeds fans whatever they are and not be divisive. Only then, if Leeds fans are United in a common passion for their club will it have any chance of succeeding. Will Bates-Out be any different to previous movements? Only time will tell.

Photo courtesy of and copyright Alex Knight Photography 2012

View all Showing latest two comments of two...

Armleywhite wrote on 30 Jan 2012 07:24 pm

Twiggster wrote:By the very nature of its title, the Bates out blog is only going to draw attention from those who want Bates out - and be ignored by those who don't.
Preaching to the converted, is a phrase that springs to mind.

Much better to join the Leeds United Supporters Trust, if we really want Leeds fans UNITED.
Stabilise the fan base first - pro Bates, anti Bates or even fence sitter LEEDS FANS are what matters. The Trust appears to me to be slowly making headway in unifying our disharmonised fans at the moment.
Once we have a UNITED voice of several thousand Leeds fans, then we have the "teeth" to lobby the LUFC directors and chairman.
A few hundred on a march, or shouting around Billy's Statue isn't going to help. Neither is yet another "Bates Out" blog, of which there are many.
This is EXACTLY what I have been advocating for a couple of years or so now. No point in trying to coerce Bates out of the club, he owns it. Much better to work with LUST etc to put pressure on Bates to make sure the old miser is kept in check. He's not going anywhere soon, so much better to pressurise him into not going off at a tangent to much

Twiggster wrote on 30 Jan 2012 06:39 pm

By the very nature of its title, the Bates out blog is only going to draw attention from those who want Bates out - and be ignored by those who don't.
Preaching to the converted, is a phrase that springs to mind.

Much better to join the Leeds United Supporters Trust, if we really want Leeds fans UNITED.
Stabilise the fan base first - pro Bates, anti Bates or even fence sitter LEEDS FANS are what matters. The Trust appears to me to be slowly making headway in unifying our disharmonised fans at the moment.
Once we have a UNITED voice of several thousand Leeds fans, then we have the "teeth" to lobby the LUFC directors and chairman.
A few hundred on a march, or shouting around Billy's Statue isn't going to help. Neither is yet another "Bates Out" blog, of which there are many.