Bates: Insists takeover delay is nothing to do with him

Bates opened negotiations with Bahrain-based Gulf Finance House (GFH) in June but, despite a series of statements and counter-statements from both parties, a deal remains unsigned.

According to Bates, the delay is nothing to do with him, with the former Chelsea owner claiming he is ready to sign over a club he took control of seven years ago.

"I'd like to be able to say something but there is a confidentiality agreement which seems to be a bit one sided," he said today.

"It makes it difficult to say anything. The real problem is their lawyers because this is a straightforward deal, by anyone's standards. I don't know what the delay is, they appear to try and make complications when there is no need to do so.

"I understand the share purchase is 171 pages long and I question if they are acting in their client's best interests. GFH want to complete a deal and we are happy to do a deal with them, but when last-minute things are slipped in, it makes things very difficult.

"By GFH's standards this is not a big deal, so I say to Leeds fans, don't blame me."