Osgood Praises Bates

Last updated : 03 March 2004 By Rich Godden
Blues legend Osgood told the BBC: "He certainly put my nose out of joint. He wasn't a nice man at times and at the end of the day he got lucky getting Abramovich to buy him out.

"But he has left the club much healthier than he found it so you've got to say well done to him.

"We were struggling when he bought the club for £1 (in 1982), he built the stadium and the Chelsea Village so you have to hold your hands up to the old man, but he could have done it in a more diplomatic way.

"He was good for Chelsea and did a fantastic job. He likes to be in the limelight and he has always been on radio and TV, so I think if something came along he'd take a stab at it."

Sheffield Wednesday, perhaps?