Ken Bates has broken his silence on the impending Leeds takeover, but he isn't giving too much away!

Sports channel ESPN tracked the Leeds owner down in his Monaco home and Mr Bates told them "I am here in Monte Carlo but I am making no comment at all. If anything happens you will be the first to know."

Why Ken feels it is his duty to inform ESPN is anyone's guess, in January he was quite uncomplimentary towards them over their coverage of Leeds FA Cup tie against Arsenal.

It is understood that Bates has signed a confidentiality agreement over the proposed sale of the club, with a Leeds supporting Shiekh from Bahrain believed to be at the forefront of a consortium to end Bates' seven year association with Leeds.

Let's hope it is not the infamous "Shiekh rub-a-dub" Ken used to mention in his programme notes regularly.

ESPN claim the deal will be done in a couple of days!

Meanwhile Leeds are set to land Sk Brann midfielder Rodolph Austin next week, in a deal reportedly worth £300,000.

Brann are resigned to losing the Jamaican international 27- year- old but want him to play in a crunch fixture against Alesund this weekend.

Austin comes with a glowing endorsement from Norweigan ex Leeds favourite Eirik Bakke, who played alongside Austin for two years and described him as the type of midfielder the Leeds fans love "110% committed".

Austin's combative style does make him probe to disciplinary problems, in 11 games for Brann this season he has picked up 5 yellow cards and one red!

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls