Administrators reccomended a sale to a new company setup by Bates, but he needed the backing of 75 per cent of creditors - who will receive just one pence for every £1 the club owes them under Bates' plan.
At a meeting on Friday afternoon Bates received 75.02 per cent of votes, with administrators KPMG calling for a recount at Elland Road on Monday morning because it is so tight.
"Fans will be bewildered as they were hoping for some indication of where Leeds will be going but that has not happened because this will run and run for a while," warned Ray Fell, chairman of Leeds United Supporters' Club.
"It's possible that this will go to the courts. It could be any one of the creditors who can challenge it legally and it will not be a surprise to me if that happens.
"Fans will be concerned that Leeds will not be up and running and ready to start the new season in August and once all this is resolved the fans get a board of directors that they deserve."
Leeds were relegated from the Championship last season, and will kick-off in League One next term - the first time the Peacocks have ever played outside of the top two divisions in English football.