The United chairman has written to all season ticket holders and members to outline the background to the most dramatic summer in the club's history.

In the four-page missive, Bates explains why he feels discussions with the Inland Revenue ended in deadlock and just how far talks went with parties purporting to be interested in buying United.

Bates insists Duncan Revie made no contact or offer and that he had "one meeting and one phone call" with a lawyer representing Redbus.

He is also scathing about former directors Simon Morris, who joined Redbus to make an offer to the administrators, and Melvyn Levi.

Bates outlines United's future plans, including the development of Elland Road to bring in more "non-football income", and also warns the Leeds fans who want him and Dennis Wise out that the pair are "here for the long haul".

He writes: "We now have a club with no debt, the last legacy of the Ridsdale era is behind us. We still have the consequences of the (former chairman Gerald) Krasner, (Melvyn) Levi and (Simon) Morris actions with us. They sold Elland Road for £8m. We have to buy it back at £15m, while paying £1.1m a year in rent."

On the penalty imposed by the Football League for what they perceive as United's failure to follow insolvency policy, Bates writes: "The 15-point 'sanction' is a scandal and a travesty of justice.

"We are appealing that decision to the Football Association but, meanwhile, we will get on with the job of strengthening the team and getting back firstly to the Championship and then the Premiership."

The Leeds chairman also revealed details of some of the player transfers this summer. He writes: "Let me take David Healy as an example. Healy's agent voted against the CVA. Healy had one year left on his contract, which meant he could sign a pre contract in January and walk out next June on a free transfer.

"Everybody said we should get £3m plus for him but nobody offered it. He was a high earner and his agent wanted him away.

"Fulham's was the only genuine offer and we got £1m for him plus add-ons. He cost us £750,000 from Preston plus 20 per cent of any profit.

"We still owed Preston £200,000 so, of the £1m, we actually got £750,000 net. We have already spent £500,000 on buying Casper (Ankergren) and (Andrew) Hughes."