New Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo has received a glowing reference from his old boss - Leeds United chairman Ken Bates.

Bates was Chelsea supremo when Ruud Gullit brought Di Matteo to English football from Lazio in 1996, for a then-club record fee of £4.9 million.

It proved an inspired signing as the Italian went on to win two FA Cups, a League Cup, a European Cup Winners Cup and a European Super Cup with the West London side before his retirement through injury in 2002.

Speaking to Yorkshire Radio, Bates recalled fondly the Italian's history-making achievements as a player, and even vowed to visit stadiummk when his United side face Di Matteo's Dons just before Christmas.

He said: "Robbie Di Matteo was a lovely boy, and of course he's in the history books already for scoring the fastest goal ever in a Wembley cup final and the last ever goal in a Wembley cup final.

"He had a terrible, horrific injury the season afterwards and it took him a long time to get back, meanwhile he became a successful businessman.

"He's always wanted to get back into football, he's taken his [coaching] licence and Eddie Newton, who scored the second goal for Chelsea [in the 1997 FA Cup Final] and also had a serious injury, will be his number two.

"So it will be Leeds against some Chelsea old boys when we play MK Dons away, and I'll be flying in for that game.

"I wish him well, as I said to him last night, except for the two games against us!"

 With thanks to Yorkshire Radio