Leeds United chairman Ken Bates was happy seeing the Stamford Bridge sale vote defeated by the Chelsea Pitch Owners.

Former Chelsea chairman Bate saluted the "loyal fans".

Bates, who set up the CPO in 1993 to safeguard the Bridge's future and who sold the club to Roman Abramovich in 2003, said: "The new board thought they would be able to steamroller this through and they got it wrong.

"This is a major triumph for the loyal supporters. The club have been through so much and that's why I wanted Chelsea's future to be in the hands of their supporters."