Bates in firing line as Kilkenny looks to set the record straight

The Australian international returned to Elland Road for the first time since leaving on a free transfer during the summer but was unable to prevent the Robins slipping to a 2-1 defeat.

Kilkenny had hoped to stay at Leeds but could not agree a new contract due to the club refusing to match his wage demands, paving the way for the midfielder to leave for nothing under the Bosman rule.

After scoring City’s goal and then celebrating by running towards the directors’ box and blowing a kiss at Bates and chief executive Shaun Harvey, Kilkenny hit out at the way the Yorkshire club is being run.

“It is hard to speak out when you are a Leeds player and things are going on around you,” said the 25-year-old who spent three-and-a-half years at Elland Road.

“I was really close to Jermaine Beckford and they let him go on a free transfer. As a player, it is hard to see that but you can’t say anything because they will keep you quiet by fining you or something like that.

“Over the years it has happened over and over again and people have blamed the players for that.

“But now people are starting to see that when it happens four, five, six times, there is something else going on.

“I looked at the team that has been playing recently for Leeds and there were only three players from last season. That is really disappointing for a club like Leeds.

“They should be keeping that team together from last year and adding a couple more.

“We were seventh in the league in our first season in the Championship and with that experience, automatic promotion would have been well within our sights with a few more players added.”

Asked about the celebration that followed his 11th minute equaliser, Kilkenny added: “I didn’t really want to celebrate in front of the fans.

“But I needed to make a point to the chairman and his chief executive because everyone here has said hello to me except for the chairman and the chief executive, which is disappointing.

“I have seen a few things said by the chairman over the last couple of days. He said that I left Leeds to go to a smaller club and that was very disrespectful to both me and to Bristol City. That is really, really disappointing... but that’s him. What can you do?

“I made a lot of appearances in a short amount of time for Leeds – almost 150 in three-and-a-half years, and that’s not really heard of these days.

“It wasn’t nice to hear those things said because I always stated that I wanted to stay at the club.

“Obviously, he was a bit disappointed that I left but he made the decision and he shouldn’t have said those things. Maybe he was feeling a bit upset that I left.

“I did blow a kiss. I can’t stress enough that it wasn’t to the fans. He (Bates) didn’t blow a kiss back – he just sat there with a stony face.

“I can only give my opinion about what I have seen at the club. I didn’t want to say anything but after what he has said in the papers, I have to say my piece.

“There was no need for him to say anything because I haven’t said anything about the club.

“I have only ever said that I love the club and didn’t want to leave – that is all.

“I was made out to be the bad guy in this situation by certain directors, but I wasn’t. I always said all along that I wanted to stay and obviously the powers above had the decision to make and they didn’t see me staying at the club.”

Kilkenny’s arrival on the Elland Road pitch before kick-off was greeted by a mixture of the usual booing that greets most returning ex-players and a smattering of applause.

Then, with Leeds already a goal up through Adam Clayton, he was clapped by fans sitting in the Kop and North East corner when walking over to take a corner.

Asked about the reception, he said: “It was very nice to see everyone – they have all been really welcoming, even the fans.

“I have really liked coming back. It was a really nice reaction off the fans early on and I enjoyed that.”

Meanwhile, manager Simon Grayson, who is expected to step up his attempts to sign Stoke City’s Danny Pugh on loan today, was delighted by his side’s resilience in claiming all three points despite playing most of the final half-hour with just ten men following Paddy Kisnorbo’s red card for a professional foul.

He said: “There are always periods of games in a season when you are not going to play as well as you can. You have got to dig in deep and grind results out.

“No team is going to come here, roll over and let us win 3-0 or 4-0. It is a difficult division.

“Look at Bristol City – their two wingers are a threat, while (Nicky) Maynard was attracting bids of around £4-5m during the transfer window.”

On Kisboro’s dismissal, which was followed by Andy Lonergan saving Maynard’s subsequent penalty, Grayson added: “I have got no problem with the red card. Paddy brought him down and it is a goalscoring opportunity.

“The lad (Maynard) was about half a yard or a yard outside the 18-yard box but it is a difficult one because when you are that close to the line and the referee is behind him, his momentum takes him in to the box and the referee is going to give that nine times out of 10.

“The penalty is down to the penalty taker. All I want my goalkeeper to do is try and save them. The save was a reward for what he (Lonergan) has done for us so far this season. He has been outstanding.”

There was also a Championship win for Hull City as they saw off Portsmouth 1-0 at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

Robert Koren fired in the first-half winner as the Tigers coasted to victory over a poor Pompey.

Barnsley drew with Watford 1-1 but there was more bad news for Doncaster Rovers as they lost 2-0 at Reading and remain rooted to the foot of the table with just one point from their seven matches so far this season.

Both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday picked up wins in League One as the Blades beat Colchester 3-0 and the Owls won 3-2 at Yeovil but there was frustration for Huddersfield as they were held 1-1 at MK Dons.

Rotherham United shared six goals with Torquay in a 3-3 thriller down in Devon, while Bradford suffered a 3-1 defeat to Crawley.