BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Leeds United | Leeds and Bates in takeover talk
Leeds have confirmed they are in talks with former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates with a view to him investing in the debt-ridden Elland Road club.
Sebastien Sainsbury had been close to a takeover of the Championship side but withdrew his £25m offer last week.
Leeds spokesman Bryan Morris confirmed: "We are still talking to all consortia and Mr Bates is one of those.
"No deal has been finalised, but as soon as negotiations are concluded we will issue a further statement."
Bates stepped down as Chelsea chairman in March last year following Roman Abramovich's £140m takeover of the club.
In May, he made a proposal to invest £10m in Sheffield Wednesday, but this was rejected by the club.
Administration threat
Sainsbury, great grandson of the founder of the supermarket chain, had been trying to buy the cash-strapped club since October.
But his efforts failed after he revealed it would take £40m to stage a takeover, and that the club will also lose £10m over the next six months. Thirteen potential consortia have expressed an interest in the club since chairman Gerald Krasner took control 10 months ago, including Leeds-based property developer Norman Stubbs.
Their failure to agree a deal, however, leaves the club on the brink of administration, potentially within the next three months.
Should Leeds be served with a winding-up order, they would suffer an automatic 10-point deduction by the Football League.
Leeds have confirmed they are in talks with former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates with a view to him investing in the debt-ridden Elland Road club.
Sebastien Sainsbury had been close to a takeover of the Championship side but withdrew his £25m offer last week.
Leeds spokesman Bryan Morris confirmed: "We are still talking to all consortia and Mr Bates is one of those.
"No deal has been finalised, but as soon as negotiations are concluded we will issue a further statement."
Bates stepped down as Chelsea chairman in March last year following Roman Abramovich's £140m takeover of the club.
In May, he made a proposal to invest £10m in Sheffield Wednesday, but this was rejected by the club.
Administration threat
Sainsbury, great grandson of the founder of the supermarket chain, had been trying to buy the cash-strapped club since October.
But his efforts failed after he revealed it would take £40m to stage a takeover, and that the club will also lose £10m over the next six months. Thirteen potential consortia have expressed an interest in the club since chairman Gerald Krasner took control 10 months ago, including Leeds-based property developer Norman Stubbs.
Their failure to agree a deal, however, leaves the club on the brink of administration, potentially within the next three months.
Should Leeds be served with a winding-up order, they would suffer an automatic 10-point deduction by the Football League.