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Leeds United v Bristol City: Bates in Kilkenny blast
Neil Kilkenny has launched a scathing attack on Leeds United’s board of directors and accused chairman Ken Bates of showing a lack of respect in comments about the midfielder’s transfer to Bristol City.
Kilkenny criticised both United’s owner and chief executive Shaun Harvey after scoring for City in their 2-1 defeat to Leeds on Saturday.
The appearance was Kilkenny’s first at Elland Road since leaving United on a free transfer, and he reacted to his goal by running to the West Stand and gesturing and blowing kisses towards Bates and Harvey in the directors’ box.
Bates responded today by describing Kilkenny’s behaviour as “inappropriate” and said United were considering reporting him to the Football Association.
The Australian international left Leeds in May after failing to agree a new contract and subsequently moved to Ashton Gate. He was angered by a radio interview with Bates last week in which the 79-year-old claimed Kilkenny “left us because he wanted a big club and finished off at Bristol City”.
Kilkenny, who made 144 appearances for Leeds in three-and-a-half years, said: “I was made out to be the bad guy by certain directors and I wasn’t. I said all along that I wanted to stay and obviously the powers above me had a decision to make and they didn’t see me at the club.
“I didn’t want to celebrate in front of the fans but I needed to make a point to the chairman and his chief executive because everybody here said hello to me except for the chairman and the chief executive, which is disappointing.
“I’ve seen that the chairman said I left Leeds to go to a smaller club and that was very disrespectful to me and Bristol City. That’s really disappointing but that’s him – what can you do? I did blow a kiss but I can’t stress enough that it wasn’t to the fans.”
Bates told the YEP: “He can’t justify or excuse his behaviour. It shows exactly why we weren’t sad to see him go. Neither myself or Shaun ever go down to see players on match days. Why would we? The fact is he asked for a wage which we didn’t think he was worth. He’s a petulant sod with big ideas of himself. We might report his behaviour to the FA because we’ve got CCTV footage of it.”
Leeds offered Kilkenny a new contract last October but he rejected the deal and did not receive an improved offer. He and Bradley Johnson – another fixture in United’s midfield last season – left Elland Road for nothing in the summer, a repeat of the situation which saw prolific striker Jermaine Beckford part company with United 12 months earlier.
Leeds attempted to negotiate extensions with all three players without success, and they saw Max Gradel enter the final year of his deal before being sold to St Etienne last month.
Kilkenny said: “It’s hard to speak out when you’re a Leeds player and things are going on around you. I was really close to Jermaine Beckford and they let him go on a free transfer. It’s hard to see that but you can’t say anything.
“Over the years it’s happened over and over again and people have blamed the players but now people are starting to see that when it happens four, five or six times, there’s something else going on. I can only give my opinion about what I’ve seen at the club. I didn’t want to say anything but after what Ken Bates has said, I have to say my piece.
“There was no need for him to say anything because I haven’t said anything about the club. I’ve only ever said that I love the club and didn’t want to leave, that’s all. After things that he’s said, I think some people need to stand up to him.”
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Comments
There are 42 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
Philin
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 12:34 AMWelcome back SiBryan, a lot of us told you not to go, and while you were away, a lot of the people who said they didn't like you criticising Ken Bates and the way he is running the club, have repeated everything you said! They are now living in reality.Catching the bus back from the city centre after the Man U game, reminded me that the special thing about Leeds is the supporters. Please go away Bates, we're not greedy, we'd like a little respect. MOT.
paz
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 11:36 PMBates is the moron, not Kilkenny!
Sick of Kens lies
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 10:38 PMI'm back for a one off comment. BATES - I THINK YOU ARE PATHETIC, AND TO NEIL KILKENNY, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT AND WHY YOU DID WHAT YOU DID.. Short and sweet.
superwhite
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 08:03 PMBates is a bum, low class.
danielr7124
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 07:41 PMALL TOGETHER NOW........"IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII WOULD RATHER BE A MORON THAN A...C*NT" join in everyone one
wafllufc
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 07:28 PMBates calls the fans MORONS and that's ok, Killkenny blows him a KISS and he wants to report him. Get a grip and grow up BATES your an embarrassment.
Neil1964
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 07:05 PMThe cost of tickets for this Carling cup game is proof enough that Bates is here to squeeze as much money out of the "loyal" fans as he possibly can. Further confirmation of this is the next home game against Portsmouth is category A. Yes the mighty Portsmouth Cat A. Work that one out. £31 behind goal £36 East and West. Limited concessions.
qbywhites
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 05:05 PMi really wanted to go to the man utd game, but myself and my friends could not afford the £39,ticket price,plus car park, food and drink . would have cost £60.each for carling cup. THANKS KEN
loveleedshatebates
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 04:57 PMI'm hearing alot about bates 2 fingered gesture towards Leeds fans, did he actually do this and if so when.
woodwhite
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 04:24 PMWell done KIlla for standing up to Bates and joining the moron club . Bates loves giving it out but can't take it back. How he can even consider reporting Killa is beyond a joke but not a suprise given the way he goes about things.
OldhamWhite
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 04:16 PMThe sooner Bates is out of our club the better. The man is a disgrace. He calls his paying public morons and ejects those who dont share his views. I cant believe the YEP aren't asking why he has increased the admission for tomorrows game? £39 to sit in Upper East Stand. Its my sons bithday so I was thinking of maybe hospitality before the game - until I saw the prices. £234 each for a meal and a seat in the East Stand. This is Yorkshire, does her not understand that £468 is a weeks wage. Even with a reduced capacity and there are still over priced tickets available. Liverpool at the same stage of this competition was a 39000 sell-out. Bates the morons are seeing you at last for exactly what you are........nothing more than a paracite on this great club!
Leeds83
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 03:28 PMHi Marti, well if anything it proves you can get more money without an agent ha. I can't see us paying that much money but I don't know how reliable your sources are - if they are solid then fair enough. I know that we matched the offer from Cardiff in order to sign him and they was already throwing money away (paying Bellamy £20k pw) - would they have offered him £18k per week? from what i know i thought our highest earners are about £12k, can they justify paying a centre half more than our best strikers.
originalkoppite
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 03:14 PMJonty...A numpty like you who learnt all his football from playing subuteo while others were playing proper football couldn't begin to understand the nuances of the game so do more reading and less posting until you learn how the game works. To begin with you pay a player what he's worth as dictated by the market. If he wants more and poor judges choose to pay it so be it. We've swapped NK for AC and most knowledgeable fans are happy with that. With the arrival of Vayrynen NK would have been lucky to get on the bench.
Jonty64
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 03:00 PMWith Beckford, all teh club did was offer more years not more money. I wouldn't be surprised if this is still happening now and hence why Kilkenny and Johnson turned these contracts down. The club never really wanted to keep them.
Marti
Monday, September 19, 2011 at 02:47 PM~24 Leeds83. Is this the same AOB who was on £18k per week for the remainder of last season as we matched his Bolton contract.?
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