Ex-Chelsea chairman labels Piers Morgan an ‘a***hole’ and Glenn Hoddle ‘useless’
Former Chelsea owner and chairman Ken Bates has lashed out at Piers Morgan and slammed Glenn Hoddle while opening up on his time in football.
Now 91, Bates spoke about his time at Chelsea and Leeds ahead of a new autobiography – and he didn’t hold back in his assessments of well known figures surrounding the game.
Having previously opened up about his purchase of Chelsea for £1 and subsequent sale to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Bates has plenty more to say.
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In an extended chat with the Daily Mail, Bates described a sit-down he had with Morgan during his time at Chelsea, with the broadcaster insisting the public had a right to know about his personal life.
Bates said: “In the end, we just got up and walked out. It goes to show Piers Morgan has always been an a******e.”
Having picked Italian boss Claudio Ranieri as his favourite Chelsea manager, he called former England manager Hoddle ‘useless’, while hailing Gianfranco Zola as the best signing of his time at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea fans, who was your favourite manager to work under Ken Bates? Tell us in the comments section below.
(Image: Getty Images)
Bates also slammed the American ownership model and public sale of Manchester United, while reflecting on how he agreed a deal with Abramovich in the Dorchester hotel.
Speaking of the days surrounding their meeting, Bates told The Blueprint podcast – as quoted by The Telegraph – of the Russian’s bold training ground idea.
Bates said: “Abramovich hired a helicopter for a trip around London.
(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
“He saw a park and said: ‘That looks like a good park. Let’s buy that for the training ground’.
“But he got told ‘I don’t think you will get that. That’s Regent’s Park and it’s owned by the Queen’.”
Regent’s Park, which is split between the City of Westminster and the Borough of Camden came into possession of the Crown back in the 1500s – and is now Grade I listed.
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