MAN WITH CHIP ON SHOULDER

Last updated : 13 May 2004 By editor

From Sky Sports:

Bates has labelled some of owner Roman Abramovich's big-money signings "mercenaries" and claims the Russian way of doing business has been blighted by years of communism.

"The way Ranieri has been treated is quite shameful," Bates told Sky Sports News. "And he doesn't deserve it. I think the job he's done this season, could you do your job if you were being vilified every day in the press and media? And not lose your temper but smile and make a joke? He's a gentleman - the Russians don't deserve him."

"The difference between revolution and evolution is only time and they could have done it very nicely."

"I've sacked a few managers in my time but I've done it - bang, out. I haven't done it by death of a thousand cuts. If you want to change your manager, you change the manager but there's a way of doing it and a way of not doing it. The danger at Chelsea is nobody worthwhile will come here - only ones for money and not for the affection."

"I don't think it's Roman Abramovich particularly. It's his henchmen. Remember, if you're aged under 80, you've only ever lived under communism and the communist way of life is very different from the western way of life. People below you are treated like dirt and the people above you, you grovel to. It's not the way of doing things in England and they are learning that the hard way."