Bates was rarely far from controversy. In the mid-1980s he installed a 12ft, 12-volt electric fence around Stamford Bridge to deter pitch invasions, only for the Greater London Council to block him from powering it up on safety grounds.
In 1991, Chelsea were fined £105,000 over alleged illicit payments to players, prompting Bates to step down from the Football League management committee.
He regarded securing Stamford Bridge as Chelsea’s permanent home as one of his greatest achievements, later transforming it into a high-end all-seater stadium with a capacity of more than 40,000.
That followed a prolonged legal fight with property firm Marler Estates, which owned much of the ground’s freehold. Bates then launched the Chelsea Pitch Owners scheme, distributing ownership among supporters to protect Stamford Bridge from future threats.
In many ways, this was as significant as the on-field success Chelsea later enjoyed under his stewardship.
Bates’ efforts to attract elite players were boosted by the investment of Matthew Harding, who joined the board in 1993 and rose to vice-chairman.
Glenn Hoddle was named player-manager in June 1993 as the club’s profile grew, and two years later he left to manage England.
A devoted Chelsea supporter, Harding initially put £5m into upgrading Stamford Bridge and later funded signings, but he and Bates clashed frequently over control and direction; in 1995 Harding was barred from the club’s boardroom.
The rift was never healed before Harding died in a helicopter crash while returning from a League Cup tie at Bolton Wanderers.
In February 1998, Bates dismissed Ruud Gullit—who had won the FA Cup the previous season—after their relationship broke down, amid claims Gullit learned of the decision via Teletext.
Gianluca Vialli took over and delivered the European Cup Winners’ Cup, plus an FA Cup final victory over Aston Villa in 2000.
After just one win in the first five league matches of the following season, Bates removed Vialli as well—a decision heavily criticised by Pierluigi Casiraghi, the former Italy striker signed under Vialli whose career was ended by injury. Casiraghi accused Bates of arrogance and ingratitude and said the move was a mistake.
Bates’ programme notes became must-reads as he used them to hit back at critics and defend himself and the club in print.
Claudio Ranieri was Bates’ final managerial hire before selling to Roman Abramovich, a deal he said would elevate Chelsea to a new level—and so it proved.
It became a watershed moment in Premier League history, ushering in a wave of wealthy overseas owners.