January 20 – The future of Leeds United, a former giant of English football and one of the country’s most iconic clubs, has suffered yet another blow after Italian owner Massimo Cellino lost his appeal against the Football League’s decision to disqualify him.
In an ongoing saga of twists and turns, Cellino was disqualified in December, seven months after taking over, when documents confirmed he had previously been guilty of tax evasion in a Sicilian court.
He appealed but under the new ruling, the 58-year-old entrepreneur is banned from having anything to do with the running of the club, languishing near the foot of the second tier of English football, until April 10.
Leeds chief operating officer Matt Child told the BBC the club were “surprised and disappointed” with the verdict and “would continue to take legal advice”.
“Massimo feels like he has been invited to a party and when he has shown up he hasn’t been allowed in.”
GFH Capital, who have a 25% stake in the club, have echoed Child’s sentiments. They said in a statement: “We fully support his, and the club’s, actions to get this finding overturned, and will continue to do so. We remain committed to the best interests of Leeds United and these will best be achieved with Massimo’s suspension being lifted as soon as possible.”
Under Cellino’s tenure Leeds have sacked three managers, two of them after just six games apiece, but there is a large body of opinion that believes he will ultimately bring stability if given a fair chance.
He clinched his 75% takeover last April following a protracted saga during which the Football League attempted to block his buyout based on his past business background including being found guilty in a Sicilian court of failing to pay import duty on a yacht. But an independent QC overturned that decision on appeal allowing the takeover to go through.
Leeds were losing around £1 million a month at the time of the takeover, but Cellino said that he had cleared the club’s debts.
Cellino, who until recently owned Serie A club Cagliari, was quoted as saying at the time of walking into Leeds: “I want to be in the Premier League as soon as we can … if not by the end of the 2015‑16 season it is a failure. I want to transform the club. None of my companies have ever gone into administration.”
The club are currently just above the relegation zone in the Championship and in danger of falling into League 1.
Cellino will be allowed to resume his role after April 10 as his penalty will be deemed to be spent. But in the meantime the club are under a transfer embargo for breaching Financial Fair Play rules, and cannot pay any transfer fees for players in the current window.
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