THE chairman of a North-East football club has vehemently denied rumours he is trying to buy Leeds United FC.

Ken Bates, the controversial chairman of Leeds, has claimed that his counterpart at Darlington FC is looking to buy the struggling Yorkshire team.

The claims are understood to have angered Quakers chairman George Houghton as they have come at a time when the club is at its most settled since it went into administration in 2004.

Mr Bates was quoted on the Leeds United official website responding to rumours that former Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd was also wanting to buy Leeds.

Although Mr Bates scotched the rumours about Mr Shepherd, he added that he was contacted by a third party on behalf of Mr Houghton.

Mr Bates said the third party was a "former manager of Boston United who claims to have been in China looking to raise the money to buy Newcastle from (Mike) Ashley".

Mr Bates added: "He said he knew someone interested in buying Leeds. I said I wasn't interested in talking over the telephone to people I don't know, but I said 'who is it?'

"He said it's the chairman of Darlington."

Darlington's chief executive Jon Sotnick, a former chairman at Boston United, last week returned from a trip to China to strengthen sport, education and business links on behalf of the Quakers in the Guangdong region.

Coincidentally, Leeds have been drawn to play against Darlington at the Balfour Webnet Darlington Arena on October 8.

The two teams also played each other in a friendly on July 31 when Leeds beat Darlington 1-0.

Last night, Mr Houghton, who took over the club in March last year, said there was no truth in the rumour that he was going to buy out Leeds United.

It is understood that Mr Houghton is concerned the comments could destabilise Darlington who are topping the League Two table.

Mr Houghton said: "I vehemently deny that I have any interest in taking over Leeds United Football Club and have no knowledge of any conversation to this effect.

"Over the past 18 months I have worked incredibly hard to make Darlington a stable and successful football club and I am committed to fulfilling my long-term vision for the future.

"The Championship is our target."

A spokesman for Newcastle United said the club had heard "absolutely nothing" from anyone looking to buy out Mr Ashley.

Steve Duffy, from Darlington Supporters Trust, said: "I'd take this with a pinch of salt.

"George Houghton's doing really well and everybody's feeling very positive.

"The football club seems to be performing well on the field and off the field and from our point of view we hope there is nothing in the way of that.

"This seems a bit of an odd way of dispelling one rumour by starting another rumour.

"This looks like a bit of tittle-tattle and I don't think Darlington fans will be losing any sleep over it."