United were closing the door on their annus horribilis and welcoming in 2008 during today's game against Oldham Athletic, and Bates is yearning for a tranquil year after seeing Leeds return to profit and position themselves prominently in the League One table.

Wise's squad reached the midway point of the season on Saturday with a 3-2 loss at Swansea City, but their third league defeat could not obscure a five-month term of resilient consistency.

United have amassed 52 points from 23 games, enough in normal circumstances to guarantee their survival and place the club at the top of the division.

At the same stage last season, eventual champions Scunthorpe United had gathered 10 points fewer, and Nottingham Forest were top with 44.

The picture at Elland Road, however, is sadly distorted.

United's season has been shaped and driven by their 15-point deduction, a penalty which Bates is no closer to accepting than he was when the Football League imposed it at the beginning of August.

But the deduction, perversely, has had its uses.

The collective frustration created by United's punishment drew together a club that had been splintered by relegation from the Championship and a painfully-long period in administration.

It was the catalyst that led to Wise's acceptance among supporters who had been deeply sceptical of his appointment in 2006, even though Wise himself had always fancied the job.

Bates, who took control at Elland Road in January 2005, believed that, with time and a genuine chance, his manager would earn popularity in West Yorkshire, and the clamour of criticism that stalked Wise last season has fallen quiet, in part because of United's progression but also as a result of Wise's transparent commitment to facilitating the club's revival.

Bates told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "Dennis didn't come to Leeds on a whim. He wanted the job from the day I took over.

"At the time it wouldn't have been appropriate because I felt it was right to show loyalty to Kevin Blackwell.

"But when I gave Dennis the job, I did so because he wanted it and because I was sure he'd make a success of it.

"I asked him to clear out the Aegean stables and he's done that.

"The Football League didn't help him by waiting until five working days before the start of the season to return our share to us, but he stayed with us and he got on with it.

"If we carry on the way we've been going then we should be promoted in 2008, the first step on a long road.

"We've got the best manager in the division in my opinion, and I'm not worried if other clubs start taking notice.