8/2/2019 Ken Bates Programme Notes Leeds United vs Leicester City 28.4.12 P1

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A BUSY SUMMER AHEAD

SO, the 2011/12 season comes to a close. Westarted with such high hopes, but for whatever

reason or reasons - fitness, lack of dedication, poor

tactics or just too many players - our challenge

faded away.

Let us not dwell too much on the past. My dad used

to say, "No good crying over spilt milk, go and find

another cow," and in this spirit we can look to next

season. Much has been achieved already, the Augean

stables that was Thorp Arch have been cleansed, the

organisation there has been streamlined and actions to

improve the efficiency at Eiland Road have been taken

and continue. Players have been assessed and targetsidentified.

I would like to thank, on your behalf, the staff behind

the scenes for ali their hard work which is often not fully

recognised, and finally you fans for loyally supporting

everything to do with the club, on and off the field. This

close season is exceptionally long, due to the Olympics

and Euro 2012 but that gives Neil an extra month to

work on his preparations. Enjoy the fans' Revie day next

Saturday, have a great summer and we look forward

to seeing you for the pre-season friendly game against

Premier League opposition on Friday August 10,

followed by our Family Fun Day on Sunday August 12.One announcement that we are delighted to make

is that we have just agreed and signed a two-year

extension with our main shirt sponsor Enterprise

Insurance. Enterprise, although based in Gibraltar,

operates in Europe generally and is extending into

the Gulf.

All fans can benefit from the Leeds United Insurance

Services Comparison website (www.luiscompare.com)

which is run by Enterprise, where there are savings

available on a wide range of insurance premiums. If you

want to satisfy yourself on any points you may have, go

to the Enterprise website at (www.eigplc.com).

Some fans have asked if I will relax in the summer.

Well, one thing I won't be doing is watching or

reading about the Olympics.

This once magnificent competition originated in

ancient Greece when the cities of Athens, Corinth,

Argos, Sparta and Megara met every four years and

the best of their young men competed with each

other - hence the five intertwined circles as the officialOlympic logo. There was no financial reward on offer,

just the honour of being the best. Compare that with

today when the whole event has been prostituted. It is

all about money. In addition, just about any possible

hobby and activity have been classified as an Olympic

sport. About the only one missing is synchronised wind-

breaking but no doubt this will be with us before long,

possibly sponsored by Heinz.

Far more, I eagerly await the celebratory festivities

of Her Majesty the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, a well-

deserved tribute to an amazing lady who is still working

hard in her mid-80s, unlike some illegal immigrants,bogus asylum seekers and some work-shy benefit

claimants. There are those who criticise the monarchy,

but as Sir Winston Churchill said of democracy, the

alternatives are too awful to contemplate. President

Blair or Brown. President Livingstone or President

Galloway - that would be a laugh, followed by enduring

tragedy, an extension of the present rotten corrupt

political process.

Anyway, there won't be much time for me to relax

this summer as we'll be amassing details and our initial

thoughts on players for next season. Some players have

come to the end of their contracts and seek pasturesanew, some players will be placed on the transfer list

and some players will be offered new contracts, but

if not acceptable, could well be joining their current

colleagues who are on their way out. Money-orientated

players of limited ability with greedy agents will also

be on their way. Next season we want hard-working,

ambitious players who are ready to be paid on results,

not getting it all up-front. Finally, we want a fully fit

playing squad and a new fitness regime, not the terrible

unfitness levels we have had this season.

Season Ticket sales for2012113

will recommenceon Monday April 30. The priority for existing Season

TIcket Holders has now passed and new applicants

will be welcome as well as our existing Members.

However, seat choice is now on a first-come, first-

served basis. More details are on the inside front

cover of this programme.

Just a reminder that the online early renewal price for