Leeds chairman Ken Bates, never one to court popularity, has put himself on a collision course with supporters over the proposed rise in season-ticket prices at Elland Road for the 2011/12 campaign. The Leeds United Supporters Club have claimed the rises of up to 13% are "unjustified."

But Bates told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "There's inflation and there's a 2.5% increase in VAT, but it's actually an increase of five %.

"When the government previously reduced VAT, we reduced our matchday prices by £1. We couldn't send every season-ticket holder a cheque so when we calculated this season's prices, we deducted the VAT refund that we couldn't give them before. That cost the club about £50,000.

"Our costs have gone up. There's a 3% increase on our rent, our rates won't go up by too much, but all our other costs continue to rise."