Bates ready for busy summer
Talk is Cheap, Mr. Chairman!
Put your money where the mouth is!!
LEEDS UNITED: Bates: If you want money stay away!Ken Bates has warned players motivated by money to "keep away" from Elland Road this summer.
The Leeds United chairman will ask for a realistic approach from potential signings and their agents as the club attempt to make key additions to their squad before the start of next season.
United have already persuaded Andy Robinson to leave LeaADVERTISEMENTgue One champions Swansea City and relocate to Yorkshire, and Leeds are pressing ahead with their transfer strategy after a meeting between Bates, manager Gary McAllister and technical director Gwyn Williams on Tuesday.
McAllister is operating with the lesser of the two budgets projected by Bates for the close season after the club's defeat in the League One play-off final last month, and United's owner will resist attempts by players or agents to draw excessive wages from Elland Road this summer.
Bates said: "The question we will ask players is do they want to come here to play football, or do they want to come here for the money.
"If it's money they want then they can keep away.
"Every summer you get the same – some agent comes to you asking for half-a-million pounds to sign a player who's past his best. Then you roll on the floor laughing.
"We've had intensive discussions about where we're going, who we want to bring in and who we intend to move on.
"This is the time of year when you have to be patient and there isn't a lot of movement anywhere at the moment.
"If you show your hand too early, sometimes the price goes up.
"But we're clear on our own strategy and things will fall into place soon enough.
"We've already signed Robinson, who's a very good player, and others will follow."
YEP
