The Leeds Fans Utd supporters group says that it has reached ‘an agreement in principle’ to purchase Massimo Cellino’s majority stake in the club. Unfortunately, there may be quite a gap between the principle and its execution in practice.
The Leeds Fans Utd supporters group says that it has reached ‘an agreement in principle’ to purchase Massimo Cellino’s majority stake in the club. Unfortunately, there may be quite a gap between the principle and its execution in practice.
Cellino, who is appealing against a second Football League ban, is looking for a way out of Elland Road having told The Times earlier this week that his tenure had been ‘a nightmare’. Some might think he was reaping what he had sowed.
Given that Cellino is thought to have invested up to £30m in the club, it would be very difficult for the fans to raise that amount unless they had some wealthy backers but that would undermine the idea of a fans’ takeover. So far the group has raised £500,000 from fans donations with the intention of buying a minority stake.
Chris Dunlavy of The Football League Paper was interviewed on the Football League Show on Saturday evening about these developments and said there could be an element of public relations on Cellino’s in part. In other words, he shows willing, but won’t actually have to follow it through. Dunlavy also said that Cellino was prone to say one thing one day and another thing a few days later.
Many Leeds fans voiced their opposition to Cellino at the club’s 2-0 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers earlier this week.
It is difficiult to say whether the saga at Leeds for many years now has been tragedy or farce, probably both. The club has a great history and heritage and great potential, but how can it be unlocked? West Yorkshire has no clubs in the Premier League: compare and contrast this with Lancashire.