Leedsunited.com 4/8/09
CHAIRMAN ON DELPH DEAL
Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has revealed that the club rejected an approach from Manchester City for Fabian Delph before finalising a deal with Aston Villa.
The club announced on Monday afternoon that a deal had been agreed with the Premiership club for the 19-year-old midfielder.
"It's a good deal from the point of view that Fabian had made it clear he wanted to play Premiership football," the chairman told Yorkshire Radio.
"He was keen to go and we felt it was right to let him go providing we got the right figure. When we got the matter agreed we moved quickly.
"We had accepted an offer from Manchester City on Saturday which they had to go back with to the owner in the Gulf. Then apparently they needed a week to think about it which surprised us, considering the size of the deal.
"The problem was, that with a week, they might have come back and said 'no' and that wouldn't have been fair to Delph, wouldn't have been fair to Aston Villa, and would have eaten into our season.
"We went back to Villa, and it's a good decision for Leeds and the player.
"Martin O'Neill has a good record of bringing through young players. He believes in youth and hopefully Fab will get his chance sooner rather than later there."
The fee is already the subject of much speculation in the media, and the chairman said: "We get a fee - some of which has to go to Bradford City as part of a sell-on - and there's contingency built-in, subject to Villa's performances.
"It's a substantial fee, it's a good one for a 19-year-old, and in the event that Simon wants to strengthen he can do so.
"I have told Simon there is money available, but he turned around with the most honest answer I've heard from a football manager in 20-odd years and said 'I'm not going to let it burn a hole in my pocket, but it's nice to know it's there if I need it.'
"That's how he intends to use it! He acts in a very responsible manner which contributes to the club's stability.
"He does have someone he is close to bringing in and as soon as he does we will announce it."
CHAIRMAN ON DELPH DEAL
Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has revealed that the club rejected an approach from Manchester City for Fabian Delph before finalising a deal with Aston Villa.
The club announced on Monday afternoon that a deal had been agreed with the Premiership club for the 19-year-old midfielder.
"It's a good deal from the point of view that Fabian had made it clear he wanted to play Premiership football," the chairman told Yorkshire Radio.
"He was keen to go and we felt it was right to let him go providing we got the right figure. When we got the matter agreed we moved quickly.
"We had accepted an offer from Manchester City on Saturday which they had to go back with to the owner in the Gulf. Then apparently they needed a week to think about it which surprised us, considering the size of the deal.
"The problem was, that with a week, they might have come back and said 'no' and that wouldn't have been fair to Delph, wouldn't have been fair to Aston Villa, and would have eaten into our season.
"We went back to Villa, and it's a good decision for Leeds and the player.
"Martin O'Neill has a good record of bringing through young players. He believes in youth and hopefully Fab will get his chance sooner rather than later there."
The fee is already the subject of much speculation in the media, and the chairman said: "We get a fee - some of which has to go to Bradford City as part of a sell-on - and there's contingency built-in, subject to Villa's performances.
"It's a substantial fee, it's a good one for a 19-year-old, and in the event that Simon wants to strengthen he can do so.
"I have told Simon there is money available, but he turned around with the most honest answer I've heard from a football manager in 20-odd years and said 'I'm not going to let it burn a hole in my pocket, but it's nice to know it's there if I need it.'
"That's how he intends to use it! He acts in a very responsible manner which contributes to the club's stability.
"He does have someone he is close to bringing in and as soon as he does we will announce it."