Leeds chairman hits out at fan who attacked Chris Kirkland

Leeds chairman Ken Bates has warned the fan charged with attacking Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland to stay away from Elland Road.

Kirkland was punched in the face when a fan entered the pitch during an ill-tempered match between the teams at Hillsborough on Friday.

Aaron Cawley, 21,  from Cheltenham has been charged with assault and entering the field of play by South Yorkshire Police.

Bates is furious regarding the events and he insists the episode has caused severe damage to his club’s efforts to improve their image.

“What is encouraging is that I am told the vast majority of Leeds fans were as appalled by what happened as everyone else,” Bates said.

“The idiot who ran on the pitch better not go anywhere near Elland Road again. There are a lot of people angered by what he did.

“We have been working hard as a club to improve our image over the past few years. But this guy has done so much damage to that. It isn’t fair on the overwhelming majority of Leeds fans.

“It doesn’t do any of us any good, especially at a time when we are working so hard to get this club where it deserves to be.”