Guardian Unlimited Football | News | Godfather Bates not cross with Blackwell
Godfather Bates not cross with Blackwell
Matt Scott and Daniel Taylor
Tuesday May 10, 2005
The Guardian
Ken Bates last night dismissed talk linking Dennis Wise with Leeds as "totally unfounded". The former Chelsea captain quit as Millwall manager on Sunday, adding to rumours that he would join Bates, his former chairman and godfather of one of his children, as manager at Elland Road.
The Leeds chairman gave a terse response to such suggestions. "It is unfair to put a question aimed at fuelling speculation that is totally unfounded," snapped Bates, who is highly appreciative of Kevin Blackwell after he steered the club to a respectable 14th place in the Championship in a season in which he started with only one player under contract.
"We had a long chat after the game [0-0 against relegated Rotherham] and talked about where we need to be next season and how we get there," Blackwell said. "The chairman is still working hard at putting in place the financial side that was previously mishandled.
"I will work with him under those constraints until we go from there. He has always been very positive in the chats we've had about next season. I can't stop the speculation and what will be will be."
Leeds have paid an initial £800,000 for Rob Hulse, the West Brom striker who has spent the past three months on loan at Elland Road, with the fee rising to £1.1m dependent on future success. The 25-year-old, with six goals in 13 games for Leeds, has signed a three-year contract through to 2008.
Godfather Bates not cross with Blackwell
Matt Scott and Daniel Taylor
Tuesday May 10, 2005
The Guardian
Ken Bates last night dismissed talk linking Dennis Wise with Leeds as "totally unfounded". The former Chelsea captain quit as Millwall manager on Sunday, adding to rumours that he would join Bates, his former chairman and godfather of one of his children, as manager at Elland Road.
The Leeds chairman gave a terse response to such suggestions. "It is unfair to put a question aimed at fuelling speculation that is totally unfounded," snapped Bates, who is highly appreciative of Kevin Blackwell after he steered the club to a respectable 14th place in the Championship in a season in which he started with only one player under contract.
"We had a long chat after the game [0-0 against relegated Rotherham] and talked about where we need to be next season and how we get there," Blackwell said. "The chairman is still working hard at putting in place the financial side that was previously mishandled.
"I will work with him under those constraints until we go from there. He has always been very positive in the chats we've had about next season. I can't stop the speculation and what will be will be."
Leeds have paid an initial £800,000 for Rob Hulse, the West Brom striker who has spent the past three months on loan at Elland Road, with the fee rising to £1.1m dependent on future success. The 25-year-old, with six goals in 13 games for Leeds, has signed a three-year contract through to 2008.