THE NEW BUSBY

Ken Bates has quit at Chelsea, with a bizarre reference to Matt Busby:

"When I signed the contract with Roman Abramovich certain things were agreed. It was anticipated that there would be a phased phase-out but it has not gone the way I thought it would do so.

"I thought very long and hard but it's clear it's a clash of western and eastern cultures. Their values are not my values, their standards are not my standards. It's in the best interests of the club, it's better that [Chelsea chief executive] Peter Kenyon operates the club in his own way without me being on the sidelines.

"One of the problems at Manchester United was that Matt Busby never retired. I feel that the agreement I had in July has not been honoured, it's been broken. I have in fact resigned as chairman of Chelsea football club.

“The king is dead - well, the king is retired - so long live the king. I wish you all well. It's been great. We have made many friends among staff, fans and even the media."

Bates said of talk of increasing the capacity at the Bridge:

"Whatever their plans are for increasing capacity, they can't knock down the hotel because I live on top of it and I'm not moving.”