Bates v Levi: Bates Ordered To Pay £10k In Damages

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has been ordered to pay £10,000 in damages to former director Melvyn Levi and his wife.

Leeds County court ruled in favour of Mr and Mrs Levi this morning after Bates wrote derogatory and defaming comments in the Leeds United matchday programme, as well as claiming Mr Levi was a criminal on the run on club station Yorkshire Radio.

Judge Mark Gosnell said: “Mr Levi has succeeded in his claim and has been awarded £10,000 and Mrs Levi’s claim has failed.”

Mr and Mrs Levi said the comments made by Mr Bates in the matchday programme consisted of speculation over the state of their marriage. During evidence given by Mrs Levi in April, she suggested that the Leeds United chairman should be “locked up” for causing distress to the couple.

This comes amid rumours that Bates has sold up shop at Leeds to an American sports venture to be confirmed in the next few weeks. For now though, even less money is available for the club's transfer window dealings, as if there was much to start with.