Bates warns his rivals for Leeds

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Bates needed 75 per cent of creditors to accept his plan to repay just 1p in the pound - and the recount of creditors' votes ordered by administrators KPMG showed 75.2per cent in favour of going ahead.

Scroll down for more

Still in control: Ken Bates

Former Elland Road director Melvyn Levi claimed chairman Bates, who took over the ailing club in 2005, was "not the right man for the job" and that he would be "back in Monaco" in six months.

But Levi and fellow former board member Simon Morris, who still wants to buy Leeds, have both joined former chairman Gerald Krasner in confirming that they will stop short of a court battle to halt Bates' return.

Bates was at a funeral yesterday, but had already made it clear that the gloves would come off if legal action by rivals interfered with his rebuilding plan.

The Football League are set to delay approving the CVA deal for 28 days "for it to be formalised" and for football debts to be cleared in full, leaving manager Dennis Wise marooned under a transfer embargo.

Bates, under fire from his critics, said: "They are talking about challenging the result in court, but on what grounds will they be appealing?

"You can't go to a court and say: 'We don't like it because Bates won'. If they choose to go to the courts, we will issue a counter-writ for damages because they will be damaging Leeds United. They would be preventing the business from trading."

Bates is aware of several potential buyers, including Duncan Revie, son of former manager Don, and Morris, whose weekend offer of 40p in the pound came too late for administrators to consider.

But Levi warned that Leeds, relegated twice in three years, will have to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United and Liverpool and take top dollar to be great again.

He said: "There are people who will pay more. We'll see whether in six months' time Mr Bates has sold the club, become life president and gone back to Monaco saying how well he's done for Leeds."