The Bates legacy: Lawyers set up shop where Leeds United’s museum was meant to be

So there is a certain irony in the revelation that what may be the single biggest legacy of Ken Bates’ time at Leeds United is now being used by dozens of legal workers.

The Yorkshire Post has learned that a firm called Quindell Legal Services Ltd is renting office space in Elland Road’s East Stand, controversially extended during Mr Bates’ reign as chairman at a reported cost of around £7m.

About 85 staff from Quindell are already using space on the stand’s first floor that was once earmarked for a club museum while another 140 of the company’s employees have been lined up for a move into its second and third floors.

Details of Quindell’s involvement are contained in an application to Leeds City Council for permission to formally change the designated use of the floor space to ‘independent office’.

A report submitted as part of the application says: “In total the proposals therefore seek to use 1280 square metres of accommodation within the East Stand.

“This space would otherwise be underutilised by the football club.”

The report also describes Quindell as a firm offering “the full range of specialist personal injury claims services”.

A separate report stresses: “The proposals relate to a change of use only and there are no physical works proposed or alterations to the exterior of the building.”

A spokesman for Leeds confirmed that Quindell was renting space at Elland Road and operating independently to the club. He also said space in the East Stand had been freed up by a pre-planned reorganisation of United staff offices rather than any job losses.

The city council yesterday said that Quindell’s change of use application was “pending consideration”. Started in 2011, the expansion of the East Stand saw the creation of new executive boxes and increased hospitality guest capacity.

The cost of the work was criticised by some United fans, who questioned why the money was not being invested in the club’s playing side.

Defending the scheme on the eve of a Carling Cup tie against Manchester United in September 2011, Mr Bates told The Yorkshire Post: “I know fans are only interested in results but we are financially secure and the club is run on sound and prudent principles.

“For the Manchester United game, we have sold many more corporate tickets than was possible when our previous capacity was 1,100. What we are doing is getting the ground ready for when we are in the Premier League. Can you imagine what it would be like to get in the Premier League and have the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea come here?

“The ground would be under siege. This way, we get the ground in a condition where people will enjoy coming to the game.

“We want to give people an experience they won’t forget and not just a football match.”

An Elland Road museum dedicated to United’s proud history was at one stage slated for a 2012 opening. A curator was lured away from the Fusilier military museum in Bury to work on the project but plans for the attraction have as so far come to nothing.

Mr Bates fought a number of legal battles during his time at Elland Road. Perhaps most notably, he was ordered to pay £50,000 in damages in 2009 after former Leeds director Melvyn Levi made a successful claim for defamation at the High Court in London.

Mr Bates has maintained a presence in the city of Leeds since leaving United, acting as an adviser to a radio station that launched in offices opposite Elland Road in 2014.

• FORMER Chelsea supremo Ken Bates took charge of Leeds United in 2005, saying he wanted “one last challenge”.

Mr Bates stood down as chairman in 2013 following Dubai-based investment bank GFH Capital’s purchase of United.

He was due to stay on as president at Elland Road for a further three years but lasted just 25 days in the post before being sacked.