Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has warned youngsters Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods that they risk damaging their careers by joining Chelsea.

Bates told his club's official website: "[Leeds defender] Gary [Kelly] is a rare example of a player who doesn't think the grass is greener in the field.

"Two young players who think it is are Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo, two of our Academy players, who have refused professional contracts with Leeds and are now training with Chelsea.

"Both their parents and their agents should take a long hard look in the mirror.

"I believe they have made a mistake in taking the Russian Rouble and could well damage their future careers beyond repair."

Does anyone see the irony in Ken Bates telling anyone not to take Abramovich's money?

yeh i do in way, but he's right.

If Messrs. Taiwo and Woods decide to join Chelsea, they would have committed career suicide. Five years from now, they'll be either be part-timers for some Isthmian League no-hoper or rent-a-cops.

wow, so many psychics here, everybody knows the future already :).

I agree. If you play for a larger team, you do tend to commit career suicide. Young players need to play at high levels and learn from their mistakes. These two will probably bang around Chelsea's reserves till their about 22 when Chelsea realise they aren't good enough and by that time everyone will of forgotten who they are.

Wright-Phillips is the living proof for all to follow. We've been deprived of his quality all this season in the premierleague. And even when he does get a game and do well for Chelsea, he's dropped after that.

Scott Parker is also to an extent. Played only a handful of games, after being a crucial member of the Charlton side. Now he hasn't even completed a whole season up north and he's a hero at Newcastle, and I'm sure he's being payed a very fair amount.

And concerning Bates taking the russian's money...I don't think the man really had a choice. Okay he got himself a nice big payoff, but he didn't want to leave IIRC, and if he hadn't taken it then Chelsea probably wouldnt exist anymore :p

Wright-Phillips is the living proof for all to follow. We've been deprived of his quality all this season in the premierleague. And even when he does get a game and do well for Chelsea, he's dropped after that.

Scott Parker is also to an extent. Played only a handful of games, after being a crucial member of the Charlton side. Now he hasn't even completed a whole season up north and he's a hero at Newcastle, and I'm sure he's being payed a very fair amount.

Wright-Phillips is a great example. I think Parker has been injured allot this season, hasn't he?

Too me that sounds like his time at Chelsea taking its effect

Glen Johnson as well for me. Used to be a regular under Ranieri, rare starter under Mourinho.

From the posts so far it seems it's not only Ken Bates himself that the irony of his comments is lost on.

How can Bates tell ANYONE not to take the Russian's money? HE DID IT!!!!

On a side note why are Leeds gates so poor despite doing well this season?

Bates increased the tickets prices by about 40%, wanker.

Glen Johnson as well for me. Used to be a regular under Ranieri, rare starter under Mourinho.

Glen Johnson is the worst right back in the league, worse than Mills.

On a side note why are Leeds gates so poor despite doing well this season?

Bates increased the tickets prices by about 40%, wanker.

Well they are in debt, so you can see the logic behind that.

Glen Johnson = bad right back, good right wing

Parker was a player I wished we had held onto. He did great for a half year under Ranieri, got his fare share of games under Mourinho and then went down to injury. After all that time off, he was told he was going to have to fight for a place, and decided to leave. His quality and ability to play were not in doubt.

SWP is not a valid example, in my opinion, becuase he is the finished article, not some academy standout. His class should be telling more than it has in his few starts, but lately, his games are beginning to turn that around.

If these two standouts are good enough, and if they were cooerced to train with us, then they must be near that level, then they should have a decent shout at getting some playing time in a couple of years. But the fact remains that the club is so rich, and has a desire to play the best 11 possible at all costs, that any academy player is going to have to be a real real standound to make it. People are talking about how Scott Sinclair could be one such player in a couple of years, but the Arnesen effect hasnt yet taken hold, so I will wait to see the talents he can reel in

As for Bates, he did alot for this club, but he is a silly old senile sod. His bitterness is blatantly evident in everything he says publicly about Chelsea. Surely, for the man who ran us into debt and ran away with the loot, he should be a little more amiable towards the very roubles that he took. He got away with 70 million of them, after all...pounds that is

Wright Phillips is nonce for taking a spot at Chelsea. Besides money, there is nothing good that's come out of that move.

I think good ol' Ken Bates has a point.