Leeds

[Keyboard Warrior]

The administrators of Leeds United have announced the sale of the club back to a consortium headed by Ken Bates, for an undisclosed sum.

Bates's company Leeds United Football Club Limited have already made two recent attempts to buy the club, but both were derailed when the Inland Revenue rejected offers of 1p and 8p in the pound on money it was owed.

The former Chelsea supremo was chairman of Leeds last season, when they were relegated into League One.

He said: "It's an anticlimax, I suppose, after all we've been going through.

"It's been a bit annoying and part of the delay has been caused by people who have professed their love for the club but have done their best to cause as much trouble as possible."

According to administrators KPMG, the winning bid for the club was unconditional and follows the decision by the administrators to put the club up for sale outside of a Company Voluntary Arrangement, which had been approved by United's creditors.

The Yorkshire club, Champions League semi-finalists in 2001, had been widely marketed post administration, with several parties bidding to takeover the Elland Road side.

Joint Administrator Richard Fleming said: "We received several offers for the business which we considered carefully. The approved deal represents the best result for creditors in the circumstances and we believe provides the club with the best chance of survival."

"We understand this has been a difficult time for all those concerned about the future of Leeds United. This deal is a necessary step if the club is to have a chance of playing in League One in the 2007/08 season. We wish the club well in its endeavours."

Simon Franks, the head of a rival bid to Bates' consortium, told Sky Sports News: "Obviously I'm very disappointed. As you know, it's been a tortuous process and we put together what we considered a very brave bid, and I am gobsmacked that we appear not to have got the club