By James Pearson Last updated: 2nd December 2008
Bates: Sticking to his principles
The fact is that the only players available at this time of year are either rubbish that other clubs want off their books, short-termists, players who are over the top, or players needing match practice.
Ken Bates on loan signings
Quotes of the week
Leeds United chairman Ken Bates insists the club will not revert to short-term planning in the wake of a series of disappointing results.
The Whites hit a new low on Sunday after being embarrassed 1-0 by part-timers Histon in the FA Cup, leading to speculation that manager Gary McAllister's position could be under threat.
McAllister, the club's chief executive Shaun Harvey and technical director Gwyn Williams met with Leeds' supremo Ken Bates in Monaco just 24 hours later and the ex-Chelsea chairman claimed the meeting was 'very positive'.
Rather than discuss McAllister's position, Bates has outlined that the team's shortcomings will be rectified in January when the transfer window re-opens in a bid to get their League One promotion charge back on track.
"We planned this meeting long before Sunday," the chairman told Yorkshire Radio. "After the Histon game, Gary, Gwyn and Shaun came out and we had a great day.
"We analysed all parts of the club, all parts of the performance, the academy, and every player on the books was discussed in depth.
"I'm not sure of some players' priorities, and the manager is aware of some of the weaknesses and that will be rectified in January.
"There's certainly no panic. It was a very positive meeting. Gary made it quite clear he couldn't convert to kick and rush as some have suggested.
"He sees his job as bringing back the type of football the fans enjoy, and that's what we are aiming for.
"It takes time and that's the way we are aiming to go. We have scored more goals than any other club in all other competitions, and those problems that do we have will be addressed in January."
Leeds have been criticised for failing to bolster their backline prior to the loan window closing, but Bates believes the players that were available were not good enough for the club.
"Some fans have asked why didn't we bring someone in on loan?" he continued.
"The fact is that the only players available at this time of year are either rubbish that other clubs want off their books, short-terms, players who are over the top, or players needing match practice.
"We're not doing that. We are Leeds United and we are sticking to our principles."
Meanwhile, Bates is keen to draw a line under the debacle that was the club's FA Cup exit to Histon and hopes the team can emulate Swansea, who went on to secure promotion last season after crashing out of the same competition to Havant and Waterlooville.
"The fact of the matter is that we were knocked out, and that's the end of it," he added on the club's official website.
"It was very disappointing. The pitch was dreadful - I suspect if it hadn't have been live on TV it would have be cancelled - but they adapted to the conditions better than we did and good luck to them in the next round.
"The interesting thing is that they now have Swansea, who got knocked out by Havant and Waterlooville last season.
"After that, they went on a run that took them to the League One championship. Let's hope that's an omen."

Keane ready for Reading test
Oldham 0-1 Huddersfield - Highlights
Mandaric rules out Pearson
Barnes reflects on Rovers spell
Leeds 2-1 Norwich - Lambert
Leeds 2-1 Norwich - Grayson
County deny Swedish claims
Grayson - Home form is key
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 14th November | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 12:05 | Huddersfield vs Wycombe |
| 15:00 | Brentford vs Millwall |
| 15:00 | Bristol Rovers vs Carlisle |
| 15:00 | Charlton vs Milton Keynes Dons |
| 15:00 | Colchester vs Exeter |
| 15:00 | Gillingham vs Oldham |
| 15:00 | Hartlepool vs Leyton Orient |
| 15:00 | Norwich vs Tranmere |
| 15:00 | Walsall vs Stockport |
| 15:00 | Yeovil vs Southend |
| Sunday 15th November | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 16:30 | Southampton vs Brighton |
| Friday 20th November | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 19:45 | Southend vs Milton Keynes Dons |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| 15:00 | Brentford vs Walsall |
| 15:00 | Brighton vs Leeds |
| 15:00 | Bristol Rovers vs Gillingham |
| 15:00 | Carlisle vs Swindon |
| 15:00 | Huddersfield vs Hartlepool |
| 15:00 | Leyton Orient vs Tranmere |
| 15:00 | Millwall vs Wycombe |
| 15:00 | Oldham vs Colchester |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| Oldham 0 - 1 Huddersfield | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| Stockport 1 - 3 Norwich | |
| Leeds 4 - 0 Yeovil | |
| Leyton Orient 2 - 2 Southampton | |
| Exeter 3 - 0 Brentford | |
| Tranmere 1 - 4 Swindon | |
| Millwall 2 - 1 Colchester | |
| Milton Keynes Dons 2 - 1 Bristol Rovers | |
| Wycombe 2 - 3 Walsall | |
| Brighton 3 - 3 Hartlepool | |
| Carlisle 3 - 1 Charlton | |
| Friday 30th October | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| Southend 1 - 0 Gillingham | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| Bristol Rovers 0 - 4 Leeds | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Coca-Cola Football League One | |
| Norwich 1 - 0 Swindon | |
| Hartlepool 1 - 0 Tranmere | |
| Bristol Rovers 1 - 2 Yeovil | |
| Colchester 2 - 1 Walsall | |
| Exeter 1 - 1 Wycombe | |
| Brentford 2 - 0 Stockport | |
| Southampton 3 - 1 Milton Keynes Dons | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United | 15 | 36 |
| 2 | Charlton Athletic | 15 | 29 |
| 3 | Milton Keynes Dons | 15 | 29 |
| 4 | Colchester United | 15 | 28 |
| 5 | Norwich City | 15 | 25 |
| 6 | Huddersfield Town | 15 | 24 |
| 7 | Millwall | 15 | 24 |
| 8 | Swindon Town | 15 | 22 |
| 9 | Bristol Rovers | 15 | 22 |
| 10 | Southend United | 15 | 20 |
| 11 | Hartlepool United | 15 | 20 |
| 12 | Walsall | 15 | 20 |
| 13 | Oldham Athletic | 15 | 20 |
| 14 | Yeovil Town | 15 | 18 |
| 15 | Carlisle United | 15 | 17 |
| 16 | Brentford | 15 | 17 |
| 17 | Exeter City | 15 | 17 |
| 18 | Leyton Orient | 15 | 16 |
| 19 | Gillingham | 15 | 15 |
| 20 | Brighton and Hove Albion | 15 | 14 |
| 21 | Stockport County | 15 | 14 |
| 22 | Southampton | 15 | 12 |
| 23 | Tranmere Rovers | 15 | 10 |
| 24 | Wycombe Wanderers | 15 | 8 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Gorgeous QPR fan Katie Moran was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Peter Beagrie expects a contrast of styles when Cardiff and Swansea clash at the Liberty Stadium.
Skysports.com understands Dennis Wise has ruled himself out of the running for the Brighton job.
Southend have helped to stave off the threat of administration by clearing a tax bill of £2.1million.
Catch all the action from Oldham's FA Cup first round tie with Leeds LIVE on the Sky Bet Player.
French midfielder Nadjim Abdou has signed a contract extension with League One outfit Millwall.
Former Brighton boss Steve Coppell has ruled out a second spell as manager of the League One strugglers.