Old-Big Gob Ken Bates is a hypocrite - Tarnishing Everton with Chelsea brush is well wide of the mark

Kenneth William "Ken" Bates, in the days before an FA hearing has launched a salvo at Everton, in an attempt to influence the result not only quite disgracefully - but in an attempt to bracket Everton FC in the same area as Chelsea FC who have been given an unprecedented FIFA transfer ban. Outrageous. Inaccurate. And downright typical of Mr Bates an original perpetrator of indeterminate terminological inexactitudes.

True to Ken Bate's form of being "An outspoken character who relishes conflict" ("Thoughts of chairman Ken". Phil McNulty. BBC Sport), on this occasion his big mouth is not only factually incorrect, but like his recent "shyster" legal ruling for deformation of a former Leeds Utd board member, it will land him in hot water. Ironically, Bates is a tax evader living in Monaco who really should keep his mouth shut as he doesn't even live in this country, won't pay UK tax if he can get away with it and is also the man who let Leeds Utd fall into administration only to repurchase the club again through a holding company on the cheap. The man is not whiter than white and lectures and rhetoric from Bates relating to business or sports ethics are quite frankly incredible and ridiculous.

Ken Bates in a number of national newspapers has called Everton quote: a "poacher" and called for them to be punished. This relates to 17 year old defender Luke Garbutt joining Everton in the summer from Leeds Utd, where he had not yet signed a professional contract. Everton did not poach him. The player was free to leave for anyone when not under contract inaccordance with EU employment law.

The latter point is the important point. Bates has tried to defame Everton by equating Everton's acquisition of Garbutt with that of Chelsea who were found guilty (subject to appeal) of improper conduct and inducing a player to break his contract by FIFA.

Disgraceful quotes from Bates include: "If you break the rules the chickens will come to roost." he continued: "Big clubs who strip other clubs' youth policy should face stiff penalties... On Monday we have a tribunal for Garbutt, who Everton nicked from us. I hope the ruling that has been handed down from FIFA on Chelsea will set the scene. It certainly sends a message to the Football League compensation tribunal about compensation."

What rules have Everton broken? Not only is Bates' comments improper they are also filled with inaccurate comments relating to Everton FC. Luke Garbutt had NOT signed a professional contract with Leeds Utd. Therefore Everton did not "nick" or steal anyone.

Mr Bates rather than lecturing other clubs should spend less time in Monaco evading UK tax, and more time looking after his football club.