Show me the cash, Bates urges potential investors

But it was the same sorry story on the pitch as they headed for the third tier for the first time.

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All the familiar failings were there as goals from Darren Currie and Tyrone Mears sent toothless Leeds to a 26th defeat of the season.

Bates said that, had he not taken Leeds into administration, the club's 104-year history would have ended and the chairman challenged the consortia said to be interested in investing to show proof of their capital.

Gerald Krasner, the former Leeds chairman and insolvency expert, claims six or seven groups are waiting in the wings but will negotiate only with the administrator.

Bates said: "The reason I am chairman of the club is because Mr Krasner and his fellow directors made a mess of the job when he had it. Neither he nor anybody else has answered my two basic rules.

"Those requirements are: proof of identity and proof of funds. I am not going to deal with third parties."

Though his buy-back has to be agreed by creditors, Bates is confident the 75 per cent needed to rubber-stamp the sale will be achieved.

This is because £23m of the £35m debt is owed to offshore companies who gave Bates agreement to put the club into administration.

Leeds face a mass exodus of players including top scorer David Healy. He was not even on the bench at Pride Park, where Leeds gave midfielder Robert Bayly, 19, his first start. It ended in a red card for jabbing his head at Craig Fagan.

Referee Phil Crossley collided with Derby midfielder Seth Johnson soon after the start and was carried off before going to hospital with suspected broken ribs.

For Derby manager Billy Davies it will be a third consecutive play-off challenge after two failed bids with Preston, but he said: "The situations are not really comparable."