The former Chelsea chairman, who quit his post at Stamford Bridge yesterday, has been linked with Wednesday for the last month and now looks odds on to lay his cards on the table in the next fortnight.
Sheffield MP Joe Ashton, who has never been afraid to speak his mind when it comes to Wednesday matters, will be working as a ‘go-between’ for The Owls and Bates.
Ashton believes that Bates wants to put his knowledge into the club but also stands firm that he will be bringing more than just brains to the table, he’ll come armed and loaded with the cash.
Owls fans will warm to Bates, one of football’s true characters, especially if he is willing to put his money where his mouth is, although he still has to sort out a few loose ends at Chelsea.
The £17million he received from Roman Abramovich when the Russian bought The Blues would go a long way to helping Wednesday’s current plight, although it is very uncertain whether Bates would plough it all in to Wednesday.
Current Owls chairman Dave Allen would like to sell Middlewood training ground, but Bates has already made clear that it is too valuable an asset to let go – despite the millions it would bring in to help eradicate the massive debt hanging over SWFC.
But one thing is clear, Monday’s AGM will no doubt be a corker and the shareholders will have plenty of questions for Allen and co to bite into!