Leeds United parted company with Steve Evans yesterday.
Ray Wilkins has told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast programme, which was broadcast on TalkSPORT on 1st June, that Leeds United must be wishing for Ken Bates to come back to Elland Road.
Massimo Cellino’s tumultuous time in charge of Leeds has failed to see the Yorkshire club progress, and the outspoken Italian parted ways with manager Steve Evans yesterday.
Evans was the seventh manager Cellino has sacked since taking charge at Leeds back in 2014.
And Wilkins now believes that White fans must be desperate for Bates to return to the club – as things have got so bad.
“I feel very sorry for the Leeds supporters. This was once a magnificent football club,” he said.
“When Ken Bates took control of Leeds people ridiculed him, but he saved that club. He saved Chelsea and Leeds. Those Leeds supporters must be thinking bring back Ken.”
Bates is hardly a popular figure at Leeds, and his time at Elland Road has been heavily criticised.
Bates owned Leeds for almost eight years – between 2005 and 2012 – and under his stewardship the club went into administration.
During his time in charge, the former Chelsea owner had to deal with multiple protests from Leeds fans, who were demanding that he sold up.
Bates had announced plans to buy Elland Road when he took over at Leeds, but he failed to purchase the ground – something which Cellino has also not delivered on so far.
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