Seriously! Just had an email from my mate who is a Leeds season ticket holder of 17 years. He wrote a letter to Ken Bates expressing his general displaasure with goings on at Elland Road this season and expressing that he would not be renewing his season ticket and indeed setting foot inside Elland Road whilst the current regime is incharge, although would continue to attend away matches. Like him or not, to Mr Bates's enormous credit he took the time out to phone my friend and spend 40 minutes chatting to him. Even more impressive was that he hadn't even put his phone number on the letter, so they must have found him on the club's database. Interestingly, during the course of the conversation, Bates said that Leeds's wage bill was 13.5 million this season whereas Barnsley's is 3.5 million. Can anyone confirm this figure?
He said not, but that at least he does now have a lot more respect for Bates than he did two days ago!
I can't confirm the figures but I know that Bates made reference to this when they sacked Grayson. He pointed out how well Hill had us playing and compared the two wage bills going on to say he wanted a manager who could take Leeds forwards without having to spend pots of money. It was this interview that led to all the speculation that Hill was destined for bellend road.
I also know someone who this has happened to! He wrote a letter to say he thought the fans were being alienated etc...and he got a call back from Ken Bates to discuss the letter. Even more interesting, he then put his wife on the phone who wanted to commend him on his grammar and writing style.
I'd say Ken Bates wouldn't have a clue about our wage bill, l doubt Mourinho would be able to keep a team in the Championship with a £3.5 million wage bill.
I posted a link on ere, back when Grayson was axed, where Bates gave his reasons to Yorkshire Radio. In said article, he did make reference to our wage bill, saying it was £4.5m for the current campaign. And looking at our retained list of players, Id be amazed if its touching £3m now. There is only Steele and possibly Hassell who I imagine are on decent dollar. Considering our clubs constant need to remind us how poor we are, wouldnt it be nice if they disclosed such details? I bet Don is paid more than
I do think we're in a good position this summer. We've a decent base and we've shed a lot of cost that was spent on players that were on the peripherary and hardly influenced the team. If we can bring in 3 quality players in the creative positions, there's no reason why we can't improve.
Hmm. He's no so nice to some of the supporters trust/ club members at Leeds who he has positively victimised over the last few years including attempts to ban them from the ground. I think they have been refused season ticket applications this year.
John Ryans gone back to talking b*llocks again, it must be some disease he's got once he's in League 1. A quote from his recent interview... "Peterbro did it last year (promotion from league 1) and we're a lot better team than them" Obviously looking at the league table they are....
