Finally Leeds’ knight in shining armour has arrived in the flamboyant and controversial form of Ken Bates.

The former Chelsea chairman, who turned the struggling London club into a major force after buying it for just a pound, took over the equally struggling Yorkshire club yesterday for the somewhat more costly fee of £10 million.

With his loud mouth, arrogant approach and larger-than-life personality, he might not be every Leeds fan’s first choice as saviour. But with administration looming and debts mounting, the term ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ springs to mind.

Having said that, if anyone can arrest the club’s slide and turn things around then Ken Bates is probably that man. He has all the right contacts, has not lost any of his enthusiasm for the game despite being in his 70s and has a few quid in his pocket to invest.

Given a little time I think Bates could be the man to restore some of Leeds’ lost pride and make them the biggest club in Yorkshire once again. After Sheffield United that is.

Plucky Exeter

So it was farewell to plucky little Exeter on Wednesday night, but not before the non-league team had given Manchester United a scare or two.

Eventually, after a lot of huffing and puffing and a host of missed chances, the Premier League side overcame their lowly opponents thanks to goals from Ronaldo and Rooney.

But it wasn’t all plain sailing as Exeter had a few chances of their own in the second half to level the match. Ultimately the superior skill, fitness and overall ability of United won the day.

However, Exeter have not lost any friends on their way to defeat. Their football was positive and occasionally good, if not exactly refined and, to be honest, they were a good advert for non-league football as a whole.

Possibly now they can use the money they have generated from these two FA Cup ties and invest in a bit more quality to get them back into the football league which is where I think most people would like to see them again.

David Beckham

David Beckham has said that, should he end up returning to play his football in England, it would only ever be with Manchester United.

That’s a fine sentiment and shows how much he appreciates everything that the club and Sir Alex did for him in his formative years, helping turning him into the superstar he has become.

However, there is one small drawback with his plan. And that is that I doubt very much whether United in general and Sir Alex in particular, would actually want him back at Old Trafford.

Yes there are warm memories of David among the fans who will never forget his contribution during the glory years. And I am equally sure that even Fergie has a soft spot deep down inside for the lad he practically raised.

The thing is that United have moved on since Beckham’s time. They have new players and a fresh outlook on life, one that doesn’t involve having a publicity seeker on the right wing.

Beckham would still have a lot to offer as a player and would arguably be still near his peak were he to leave Madrid in the summer. But the new United that Sir Alex is attempting to build quite simply doesn’t need an old Beckham.

So David might just have to look further afield (a certain part of London possibly) if he does indeed call time on his Spanish adventure.

Wenger-Ferguson

Apparently it is not just me that is fed up with this whole Wenger vs Ferguson slanging match. This week they have been told to shut up by a variety of different people including the Football Association and the Sports Minister.

Even the police pleaded with the two managers to bury the hatchet in order to avoid their petty dispute spilling over to the fans and ending in real trouble.

Apparently the two men have now realised the errors of their childish ways and have promised their respective chief executives – and the FA – that they will get on with acting like the grown ups they claim to be.

And then the football can do the talking on the Highbury pitch come February 1st which will make a nice change.

Let’s just hope there aren’t any more controversial incidents on the pitch which will spark the whole thing off again.

But I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.

Contact James on: [email protected]