"The confidentiality provisions have be both a challenge and a trustranon.

we are at an advanced stage there a still matters to agree"

KEN
WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS
Seven points from three games, that Is more like itl Much better than seven points from the previous six. As i have said before. because Nell has signed a completely new team, the players will need time to bed down and get to know each other's style of play and so it has proved - but it looks as If we are making progress In what has all the makings of a very Interesting season. As I write, we are four points off of an automatic promotion place and a win today could take us into the top six. We have played five of the eight clubs above us. In addition. five of the clubs setting the early pace have slipped away and are now below us. So we have it all to play for. As Franklin D Roosevelt said when newly elected as US President in 1933In the middle of the Great Depression: 'The only thing we have to fear. is fear Itself!" The home defeat of Everton In the Third Round of the Capital OneCup was an added and pleasurable bonus, well deserved and we continue our run of creditable performances in recent seasons against Premier League clubs, which we hope to extend in the next round against Southampton on Tuesday October 30. There was a tug of war on the dates. The Saints play Spurs away on the Sunday. and wanted to play us on the Wednesday. However.we play Brighton away on the Friday night and Shaun ensured we got our way. If we progress that one, then we will be In the quarter-finals. Well, If Birmingham can do It, why can't we? Back to today. The Tykes did the double over us last season and certainly surprised everyone by winning 5-0 at Birmingham a few weeks ago. so we will have to be on top form. But with our squad of players we can achieve anything. Let me turn to the saga of the investment front. I know that it has been a frustrating summer and autumn for the fans with no news coming out of the club, silence from the potential Investors, resulting in all kinds of rumours and speculations on Twitter - the electronic version of pub talk. You cannot imagine how frustrating it has been for us with the club being unable to comment and the staff going about their work in a fantastic fashion, despite the overhanging uncertainty about the future. At the last home game, with the consent of the potential buyers, I did alii could to update the fans on the current investment situation. Needless to say,this led to further speculation, rumour and social media comment. I revealed that representatives of the potential buyers were with us at the game.

BATES
ASa result of the speculation, on September 27, Gulf Finance House (GFH)made an announcement to the three stock exchanges that they are listed on that they, via a who!., owned Dubai-based subsidiary. were the party that were in negotiations with the club. As a result of the statement. the focus has turned to them rather than the club with the media poring over their credentials and trying to second guess matters that they probably have not even considered yet. This is not a slight at them. because one important issue remains outstanding. the transaction is not complete! There are many contributing factors as to why It is not complete, save to say. it will only be complete when all parties are happy. This is not about financial return for the shareholders; it is about making sure that the club prospers both on and off the field in the future. The Yorkshire Evening Post ran an article on October 4 quoting sources from GFHseeking to address some of the questions that are been levelled at them. The confidentiality provisions have been both a challenge and a frustration to everyone. but while we are at an advancer stage there are still matters to agree. so the YEPs headline (headlines sell papers) of 'BATES WiLLGOIFDEALis DONE" could well be premature in all circumstances. because until everything is agreed and the board comfortable. at all levels. nothing changes. Our young talent keeps pushing forward and I am happy to welcome lac Thompson as the latest Academy Scholar to sign a long-term contract that commits his future to Eiland Road. Meanwhile. we have extended Charlie Taylor's loan spell at York to give him more first team experience and the added bonus for him is that despite being newly-promoted, they are doing quite well at the present time. Another newcomer we welcome is PatrickAntelmi - a 19-yearold striker from Australia who signed last week after an extended trial, he scored twice at Monday's 4-0 defeat of Barnsleys Under21s,with the other two scored by Dominic Poleon. It is our policy to loan our youngsters out as much as possible, the reasons being two-fold. Firstly, to give them more competitive football - better to play in League One or League Two or even the Conference than our reserves. Second~ they can experience a glimpse of the real world beyond the luxurious set-up of Thorp Arch. I am continuously encouraged by the perceived moderation of Gary tooper's attitude towards me. Apparently, on Radio 5 Live last week he stated (and here