Dealing with the Devil

The opinion of Leeds fans has been fairly divided on whether Simon Grayson should have been sacked or not. One thing that is clear though is that sacking your manager when the transfer windows is shut without having previously lined up a replacement is somewhat, well stupid.

As the leading contenders for the position declare themselves out of the running one by one it begs the question, does anyone want to work with Ken Bates? Why would any manager currently in a job want to give it up to work with Ken Bates. Why would they want to work with such an outspoken boss who provides little investment and when things are not going swimmingly manoeuvres his in-house media empire against you? Perhaps Bates has just sacked the only manager who was still willing to work with him.

Bates is also always telling us that no one will invest in the club while the sickpots, morons, nutters and empty vessles are tweeting, twittering and blogging anti-Bates sentiment (Oops, that’s me) and the Leeds United Supporters Trust are marching on Elland Road. As far as I am concerned the main thing putting off potential investors is the incumbent chairman himself. His track record of dodgy dealings, off-shore accounts, ownership mysteries, failed takeovers of Caribbean islands and administrations is enough to put anyone off. It has so far limited the only viable local investors to a handful of adverting and sponsorship deals rather than major investment. I mean, would you trust Ken Bates with your money? His trusted sidekick Penfold, sorry Shaun Harvey, isn’t much better either. A former confidant of the Richmonds he leaves behind him a trail of administrations and liquidations having worked at Farsley, Scarborough and Bradford previously.

Leeds United was once a proud club, with a rich history and loyal fan base. Crowds are dropping, the next generation of fans are spending their weekends at Headingley rather than Elland Road and there is a negativity descending over the club. Investors are nowhere to be seen, the new corporate boxes are empty and we have become a laughing stock of football. Now we are struggling to find a new manager with no big names expressing a desire or wish to take the job. What was once considered a great job, an honour is now seen as a poisoned chalice.

It’s all thanks to one man, thank you Ken Bates.