Leeds United Football Club

• Nickname:The Whites
• Founded:1919
• Manager:Neil Warnock

• Ground:Elland Road
• Capacity:40296

Bates backs up McAllister

07 Aug 2008 - 14:51:51

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Leeds United chairman Ken Bates says he is determined to give manager Gary McAllister time to mastermind a promotion charge at Elland Road next season.

The Whites lost out in the League One play-off final to Doncaster Rovers last season, having started the season with a 15-point deduction for financial problems.

Bates told the Yorkshire Post: "The fact that we started last season 15 points behind everyone else wasn't an excuse, but it did create a siege mentality and limited expectations.

"We're back on a level playing field this season and we've got a manager who's been in charge for seven months and who is well and truly settled in.

"He seems happy with his backroom team and his squad, and everything is in place for us to move forward. We need to get promotion.

"But I don't feel any pressure and I'm not putting the manager under pressure either."