Ken Bates

Ken Bates, 94, died on July 11, 2026. Ken Bates was known publicly as a British football executive (Chelsea, Leeds United) and hotelier. Kenneth William Bates (4 December 1931 - 11 July 2026) is a British businessman, football executive and hotelier. He was involved in the development of Wembley Stadium and is a former owner and chairman of football clubs Chelsea and Leeds United. Bates spent five years as chairman of Oldham Athletic during the 1960s and also had a spell at Wigan Athletic. During his tenure, he helped the club win a long-running battle with property developers who were attempting to evict them from their Stamford Bridge home. By the end of his reign, Chelsea were regularly finishing in the top six of the Premier League and had won their first major trophies since the 1970s, although they had a debt burden of around £80 million. Public biographical listings identify Bates as a British football executive (Chelsea, Leeds United) and hotelier. This public record remains centered on Bates's work as a British football executive (Chelsea, Leeds United) and hotelier and the documented milestones of that career.