Ken Bates, who bought Chelsea for £1 in 1982 and sold it to Abramovich for £140m, dies at 94

Early ventures and the Chelsea purchase

Ken Bates was born in Ealing in December 1931 and had a difficult childhood. His mother died soon after his birth and his father absconded, leaving him to be raised by his grandparents in a council flat. He made a fortune in haulage, quarrying, ready-mix concrete and dairy farming, later involving himself in enterprises in the British Virgin Islands and Rhodesia. His first step into football came in 1965 when he purchased Oldham Athletic and became chairman of the Third Division side. In 1980 he became co-owner and vice-chairman of Wigan Athletic alongside Freddie Pye. Then, in 1982, he seized the opportunity that would define his legacy: Chelsea, then mired in debt totalling around £2 million and struggling in the old Second Division, was available for a nominal fee of £1.

Building Chelsea into a trophy-winning side

Bates immediately fought off property developers eyeing the Stamford Bridge site, later setting up the non-profit Chelsea Pitch Owners organisation to secure the club's home. Chelsea returned to the old First Division in 1984 and under a succession of managers including John Neal, Glenn Hoddle, Ruud Gullit, Gianluca Vialli and Claudio Ranieri, the club began to climb. The first major silverware in 26 years came in 1997 when Gullit's side won the FA Cup. A League Cup and a UEFA Cup Winners' Cup followed in 1998, and a second FA Cup arrived in 2000, along with the UEFA Super Cup. Bates and his chief executive Colin Hutchinson also spearheaded an ambitious recruitment drive, bringing star imports like Gullit, Vialli and Gianfranco Zola to west London. By the time Chelsea qualified for the Champions League for a second time in May 2003, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich was ready with a £140 million takeover bid, which Bates accepted in July of that year.

A combative and controversial personality

Bates was never far from controversy. He wrote matchday programme notes that often turned combative and in 2002 he was sued for libel after branding one supporters' group "parasites". Despite the acerbic style, his devotion to the club was rarely questioned. The Chelsea Supporters Trust noted his defining role in securing the club's future.

Ken was one of the most significant figures in Chelsea Football Club's modern history. Taking charge during one of the club's most difficult periods, he played a defining role in securing the club's future at Stamford Bridge and helping lay the foundations for the success that followed.

Leeds United years and later life

After leaving Chelsea, Bates turned to another fallen giant. He bought a 50 per cent stake in Leeds United in January 2005, but his near-eight-year tenure was troubled. Leeds entered administration in May 2007 and descended as low as League One before fighting back to the Championship. In November 2012, Bates sold the club to GFH Capital for £52 million, ending his involvement in football ownership. He spent retirement in Monaco with his wife Suzannah and their children.

Death and club tributes

On Saturday, July 11, Bates died peacefully at his Monaco home at the age of 94, surrounded by his wife and family. Chelsea issued an official statement expressing sadness and remembering his determination.

Ken's determination to fight for Chelsea when times were tough, and drive the team on to winning trophies will never be forgotten.