Ken Bates is threatening to sue any creditors who challenge his takeover of Leeds United in the courts.

Bates took back the club after today's recount of votes cast at Friday's stormy creditors' meeting revealed his penny in the pound offer received 0.2 per cent above the required 75 per cent of votes.

The creditors' decision has to be ratified by the Football League but it seems the only real block to Leeds starting to prepare for life in Division One would be a challenge in the high court.

Former director Mervyn Levi, who opposed Bates at the meeting, said he would not be taking action but added: "There are bidders who feel they require to see whether or not they have the chance of getting the club from the High Court.

"The margin (of voting) was very small - if it were a general election we would all be jumping up and down."

But Bates has already sounded a warning to anyone thinking of delaying his new company getting down to work.

He said: "On what grounds will they be appealing? You can't go to a court and say We don't like it because Bates won.' "In any case, we will fight it. If they choose to go to the courts, we will issue a counter-writ for damages because they will be damaging Leeds United. They would be preventing the business from trading."