Post by Taxigirl on Jan 21, 2006 9:40:18 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/4628780.stm
By Paul Fletcher
One year ago Ken Bates walked through the doors at Elland Road and back into football.
At the time Leeds were focused on staying in the Championship - 12 months later they want to get out of it.
Leeds United sit third in the table with a strong squad and manager Kevin Blackwell is in no doubt about the positive effect Bates has had.
"When Ken came in we were days away from liquidation - to all intents and purposes we were finished," Blackwell told BBC Sport.
"Had Ken Bates not come in there was nowhere else to go."
Blackwell describes the day Bates arrived as the moment when he could stop fire-fighting and start looking forward.
"Up until then every decision I made was not really a football decision," added Blackwell. "It was about whether it could help the club over another hurdle."
Leeds had long stopped living the dream and there seemed no end to the nightmare.
Meanwhile, after 22 years as chairman of Chelsea Bates sold the club to Roman Abramovich in July 2003.
But Bates missed football and was out of the game for a matter of months before buying a 50% stake in Leeds.
And, according to Blackwell, the knowledge Bates obtained at Chelsea and prior to that at Oldham, as well as a close involvement with the Football Association, has proved invaluable.
"Ken Bates' years of experience have come to the fore and we have benefited from that and been lucky to have it," added the Leeds manager.
Over the years Bates acquired a reputation as being difficult to work for - but Blackwell has found his direct methods an advantage.
"I have found him to be a get up and go man," said Blackwell.
"He is dynamic, he wants things done and he wants them done now. He wants the response and the reply to be positive.
"We are just going to keep going - and I'm not going to say anything to motivate Sheffield United"
Kevin Blackwell
"It might rub some people up the wrong way but I find that everything he does is done in a positive manner."
Blackwell speaks with Bates almost every day and describes their conversations as "businesslike".
But more than anything else the Leeds boss now enjoys the speed at which key decisions are made.
Prior to Bates' arrival at the club the manager would sometimes spend weeks lining up a player only for the board to veto the signing - a huge waste of his time and energy.
"If I need a decision made I can pick up the phone and the answer is yes or no," added Blackwell. "I can ask at 1pm and five minutes later I have got the answer.
"It does not take three weeks for a board to a make a decision and I think this is what has helped move the club on very quickly."
But Blackwell is reluctant to predict whether Leeds will be conclude a successful season with promotion to the Premiership.
The men from Elland Road are 12 points behind Sheffield United, for whom Blackwell was once assistant coach, with a game in hand.
"Everybody is delighted we have moved quickly forward," said Blackwell. "It shows what a difference 12 months can make in football.
"We are just going to keep going - and I'm not going to say anything to motivate Sheffield United."
By Paul Fletcher
One year ago Ken Bates walked through the doors at Elland Road and back into football.
At the time Leeds were focused on staying in the Championship - 12 months later they want to get out of it.
Leeds United sit third in the table with a strong squad and manager Kevin Blackwell is in no doubt about the positive effect Bates has had.
"When Ken came in we were days away from liquidation - to all intents and purposes we were finished," Blackwell told BBC Sport.
"Had Ken Bates not come in there was nowhere else to go."
Blackwell describes the day Bates arrived as the moment when he could stop fire-fighting and start looking forward.
"Up until then every decision I made was not really a football decision," added Blackwell. "It was about whether it could help the club over another hurdle."
Leeds had long stopped living the dream and there seemed no end to the nightmare.
Meanwhile, after 22 years as chairman of Chelsea Bates sold the club to Roman Abramovich in July 2003.
But Bates missed football and was out of the game for a matter of months before buying a 50% stake in Leeds.
And, according to Blackwell, the knowledge Bates obtained at Chelsea and prior to that at Oldham, as well as a close involvement with the Football Association, has proved invaluable.
"Ken Bates' years of experience have come to the fore and we have benefited from that and been lucky to have it," added the Leeds manager.
Over the years Bates acquired a reputation as being difficult to work for - but Blackwell has found his direct methods an advantage.
"I have found him to be a get up and go man," said Blackwell.
"He is dynamic, he wants things done and he wants them done now. He wants the response and the reply to be positive.
"We are just going to keep going - and I'm not going to say anything to motivate Sheffield United"
Kevin Blackwell
"It might rub some people up the wrong way but I find that everything he does is done in a positive manner."
Blackwell speaks with Bates almost every day and describes their conversations as "businesslike".
But more than anything else the Leeds boss now enjoys the speed at which key decisions are made.
Prior to Bates' arrival at the club the manager would sometimes spend weeks lining up a player only for the board to veto the signing - a huge waste of his time and energy.
"If I need a decision made I can pick up the phone and the answer is yes or no," added Blackwell. "I can ask at 1pm and five minutes later I have got the answer.
"It does not take three weeks for a board to a make a decision and I think this is what has helped move the club on very quickly."
But Blackwell is reluctant to predict whether Leeds will be conclude a successful season with promotion to the Premiership.
The men from Elland Road are 12 points behind Sheffield United, for whom Blackwell was once assistant coach, with a game in hand.
"Everybody is delighted we have moved quickly forward," said Blackwell. "It shows what a difference 12 months can make in football.
"We are just going to keep going - and I'm not going to say anything to motivate Sheffield United."