Ken Bates, former chairman of Chelsea and Leeds United, has died aged 94.Born in Ealing on December 4, 1931, Bates made his fortune in the haulage and concrete industries before diversifying into a variety of other businesses. His first formal role in football was as chairman of Oldham Athletic for five years in the 1960s. He later had a spell as co-owner and vice chairman of Wigan Athletic from 1980 to 1982.But it is Chelsea with whom Bates is most readily associated. He bought the club for £1 in 1982, assuming the club’s debts, fighting a long-running battle with property developers over the fate of Stamford Bridge and building the club into a regular presence in the Premier League’s top half before selling to Roman Abramovich in a deal worth £140million ($187.6m at current rates) in July 2003.Under his ownership, Chelsea were promoted back to the old First Division and remained there through the establishment of the Premier League, winning the FA Cup twice as well as lifting the UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup, the League Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
Chelsea Football Club is today mourning the passing of former chairman Ken Bates.
The club sends our heartfelt condolences to Ken’s wife Suzannah, the rest of his family and his friends.
