Leeds United 2, Hartlepool United 0.

KEN Bates is never afraid to speak his mind, as has been proved over the years on plenty of occasions.

Now the Leeds chairman has a new way to deal with errant supporters - castration!

Writing in Saturday's programme for the game with Hartlepool United at Elland Road, the Santa Claus lookalike, said: "A special message for the gentleman in the F23 area of the North West Corner.

"Apparently at half-time during the game with Southend United a man using the ladies toilet refused to leave when politely asked to do so. I have been asked to warn him that he could take the risk of being castrated if he does it again.

"This could be a severe punishment but raises the interesting question that if that happened he would then be qualified to use the ladies toilet. So please be more considerate or our CCTV camera could catch you out and we will put it on You Tube!"

Hats off to the Rotherham United official who becomes our Jobsworth of the Week for the special brand of pedantry he displayed on Saturday.

The man in question prevented our reporter from interviewing Darlington striker Gregg Blundell after the game due to "healthy and safety" reasons, ensuring the striker was treated to an entirely unnecessary march back to the pitch from the changing rooms.

Not that Blundell is thought to be a threat to anyone's healthy or safety, but according to the South Yorkshire jobsworth interviews at Millmoor must only be conducted pitch-side - so that meant in no circumstances could the Echo speak to Blundell next to the team bus. And what a heinous crime that would have been.

That meant a 50-yard walk from some temporary changing rooms, down two flights of stairs and back down the tunnel all, apparently, to avoid risking anyone's healthy and safety.

And once the interview was completed, the whole charade was repeated with Darlington captain Steve Foster this time forced to waste his time walking from the team bus to the pitch.

The jobsworth surely was not feeling bitter after Darlington's 2-0 win was he?

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

NEWS OF THE WORLD: Marcello Lippi has emerged as a contender to take over as Spurs boss.

THE PEOPLE: Roy Keane is set to enter contract talks with Sunderland officials this month

THE OBSERVER: Luiz Felipe Scolari still wants to manage England and would be open to negotiation were the FA to ask him to replace Steve McClaren.