Bates sues in £2m row

The acrimonious departure of Ken Bates from Chelsea has hit new heights after the former chairman issued a writ for £2million against the club.

And Bates has threatened to subpoena Chelsea's multi-billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to give evidence against his own club in what would be a sensational case if it ever went to court.

As revealed by Standard Sport last week, Bates is seeking a £2m settlement for what he claims is a breach of the contract he signed last summer following the Russian's takeover.

Bates pocketed £17m for his shares from Abramovich but signed a two-year deal to keep him as chairman of Chelsea.

When that ended he would then become life-president.

Although there was no salary linked to the contract, it is understood the terms provided for generous travel expenses and other allowances, estimated to be worth around £200,000 a year, as well as the continued honour of representing the club at Football Association and Premier League meetings.

But since the arrival of new chief executive-Peter Kenyon at Chelsea, Bates has been marginalised and he believes his treatment, after taking legal advice, constitutes a breach of contract for "unfair dismissal".