On This Day – 21st January
Former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates bought a 50% share of Leeds United for £10 million on this day in 2005, saving the Yorkshire club from financial ruin. The £10 million meant that Bates became the owner and chairman of the club.
Bates isn’t one of the more popular men within the game of football. He managed to upset the Chelsea fans by putting up electrified fences at Stamford Bridge to deter fans from trying to invade the pitch. Luckily the current was never turned on!
Two years after Bates became chairman, the club were relegated to the third tier of English football and went into administration. There were several protests from the fans and the club’s financial worries made back page news.
Bates stepped down as chairman in July 2013 after eight years in charge.
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