And this is why no-one likes Leeds United

A few years back, Leicester City got into financial trouble. Rather than struggle and fight their way out of it like many a club did before, they chose the cowards way out, administration. Hundreds of small businesses were told that the work they had done in good faith for a huge local employer was worthless, some went to the wall. One of the organisations not paid by Leicester was the local ambulance service, how low can you get. While being in administration, they wheeled and dealed in the transfer market, paying over-hyped players stupid wages in a vain gamble to get to the promised land. They lost and have been struggling again ever since. But they'll never have to pay back their debts.

As a direct result of this unacceptable behaviour, the football league introduced a 10 point penalty to clubs going into administration. At first glance, a "kick 'em while their down" policy from a former Tory government minister, but put in place to stop clubs doing a "Leicester" by deliberately going into administration in order to get one up on their potential rivals.

Wrexham struggled against this penalty and this season Rotherham fell to the same fate.

But nothing compares to the deliberate mis-management and potentially illegal goings on at Elland Road.

6 years ago, Leeds were semi-finalists in the Champions League, yet next season will be playing the likes of Hartlepool, Cheltenham & Forest (?). the speed of their fall from grace puts our own sorry descent into the shade. "Living the dream" was how Peter Risdale put it, and at the time, no-one argued with him. Gold-plated fish tanks, FFS !!!

The decision to go into administration now, rather than allow time for potential investors just shows what a bunch of crooks currently count Elland Road as their place of work. Not only do they deny their loyal fans the slim possibility of climbing out of relegation, therefore making any journey to Derby on the last day pointless, they then cheat League One sides out of a ten point penalty next season, meaning they can start with a clean slate, a far better position than many clubs at that level who have not chosen the easy way out.

But what do you expect from a club run, and now completely owned, by Ken Bates. Remember, this is a man who wanted to electrocute football fans in the eighties, and who now flatly refuses to lower prices at Elland Road, despite the fact they have one of the biggest grounds in the country and a loyal fan-base currently drifting away to the successful rugby league side in their thousands.

I hate Ken Bates, and there's not many people who fall into that category. Thatcher would be one, Val Kilmer another (although through no fault of his own) and Newcastle United. I think it's safe to say if I were walking down the street and saw Ken Bates on fire, the first thing I'd do is find the nearest shop and buy marshmallows.

The fact that Leeds United, the club that had Cloughie and treated him like dirt, a club that kicked & fouled & cheated their way to the title in the seventies, a club whose fans created mayhem all over Europe, is now controlled by a man who treats supporters with contempt is in some way ironic.

The two are made for each other and there's still a long way further down.