Massimo Cellino, the owner of Leeds United, Saturday’s visitors to Portman Road, has been disqualified from owning the club by the Football League and asked to resign.

Cellino was previously allowed to take control of the club having appealed against an initial decision to disqualify him after he was found guilty of failing to pay import tax on a yacht by an Italian court.

A Football League statement reads: “At its meeting last week, the board considered the reasoned judgment of the Italian Court against Mr Cellino, having successfully applied to the Italian Courts for its full disclosure.

“The board considered detailed legal advice and agreed unanimously (with the exception of its chief executive, Shaun Harvey, who did not take part in the debate or vote having declared an interest [he was previously Leeds’ chief executive]) that Mr Cellino is subject to a disqualifying condition under the terms of the [Owners’ and Directors’] Test.”

Cellino is entitled to appeal against the decision to the Football League’s Professional Conduct Committee within 14 days and would be able to return to the club on March 18th next year.

In response Leeds said in a statement: "We have today received a notice from the Football League disqualifying Mr Cellino from being a director of Leeds United Football Club until 18th March 2015.

"The club is in the process of taking legal advice on the reasoning of the decision. In the interim, the club notes that nothing has changed since the decision of the Football League’s Professional Conduct Committee in April 2014.

"The steps that the League wishes the club to take — to remove Mr Cellino only to re-appoint him in three months’ time - will be destabilising for the club, its supporters and sponsors and cannot be in the best interests of any party."

Leeds are currently 15th in the Championship, 11 points behind the second-placed Blues, having beaten leaders Derby 2-0 at Elland Road on Saturday.

Photo: Action Images

nhabo added 12:53 - Dec 1 Purely selfishly, let's hope this is a distraction for them.
4

NoCanariesAllowed added 12:57 - Dec 1 Frankly I'm surprised the Football League has taken this long to realise Cellino has no place in English football. I was stunned that his takeover was allowed to proceed after the guilty ruling. With all respect to due process, I can't understand how he could be considered to qualify the criteria in the first place if there was ever any doubt. Not that I would ever wish better things for Leeds, of course, but I just don't want to see people like this in our game. Tax evasion aside - and that's saying something - I don't want to see any club surrendering the legitimacy of club ownership to people who churn through a manager every six weeks, who can't muster up better reasoning for hiring a boss other than "he's a cool guy," who release players because they were born on unlucky dates and tell them where they have to live or face being cast out etc etc...

9

Monkey_Blue added 13:11 - Dec 1 The man is a joke, how many coaches has he sacked in his time at Calgiari and Leeds? Leeds are not my favourite team, but its a great club that deserves better than this clown. The football league board are at fault. You would think that the Football League would have applied to get the full judgement BEFORE the original appeal. The Joke is that if he leaves he can return to Leeds as owner next march as the rules say any conviction is spent after 12 months. They can remove him and then re-appoint him in 3 months!!!

10

Fatboy added 13:32 - Dec 1 Let's not forget that Leeds have done us two favours in the last week; firstly by loaning us Noel Hunt and secondly by beating Derby.
5

Tractorog added 13:33 - Dec 1 Sacking managers before important games with lots of betting money riding on them. What are the odds on that eh?
3

Ryorry added 13:49 - Dec 1 Why on earth do the English leagues allow these rogues into the game? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the German model for one would bar such cowboys, who aren't in it for anything except their own egos and the potential for financial dodgy dealing.
3

linhdi added 14:20 - Dec 1 You're right Ryorry - the German model does not allow sole owners (I think it restricts any one owner to 49%, but not sure how it stops individuals acting in concert). In any case, oligarchs and Arabs don't buy German clubs because they can't. German football is a long way from perfect - the dominance of Bayern alone is the obvious example - but it has a lot to commend it, from a fan perspective (cheaper prices, standing allowed etc).

2

minesapint added 16:22 - Dec 1 I live in Sardinia, a 30-minute drive from the stadium of Cagliari FC. When Massimo Cellino announced that he was selling up and going to England, half the popultation of the island volunteered to drive him to the airport.
5

Muncher added 16:29 - Dec 1 According to the BBC the ban is only until March 2015 after which point his conviction is regarded as spent. He only needs to step down, go on holiday for 4 months and then take control again in March.
1

Blue_Fred added 16:40 - Dec 1 @minesapint i assume the other half don't drive?
3

Seasider added 17:35 - Dec 1 What a tumultuous time Leeds have had in recent years;but remain as one of the best supported clubs in the Championship.This will no doubt be borne out by the number of fans they will bring down to Portman Rd on Saturday.The Police are taking extra precautions as they still have a bad reputation. Still the 2500 fans who went from Ipswich to support the Town last Saturday means that ITFC also has a considerable away following. Am not sure what affect this Cellino business will have on their performance but Mick is now setting his teams up generally for a win,certainly at home now instead of trying to negate the opposition as previously;so lets hope we see an entertaining game on Saturday. Noel Hunt by his remarks is already glad to be out of there ftb,and also would seem to be wanting to stay even though he hasnt been here a week yet! My how things have changed at Portman Rd since Mick took over,with players now worth money,internationals,and contracts sorted out earlier. Feel as positive now as I did during the Ramsey,Robson Burley and Royle years;so believe Ipswich fans and make the pilgrimage on Saturday and recreate the atmosphere like it was on March 8th 1975 when a ground record of 38010 packed into Portman Rd against the then mighty Leeds at the start of the epic 4 game Quarter final of the FA Cup!!!

4

runningout added 17:38 - Dec 1 Big relief for Leeds if he resigns for good... Makes for good game on Saturday
0

crossyIP2 added 17:58 - Dec 1 Dirty Leeds!
0

Michael11 added 19:18 - Dec 1 Couldn't happen to a better club. I'll never forget their pigs of fans throwing something at a disabled girl in our end when Alan Lee relegated them. Hope they rot and we take all 3 points to pile up their misery!
0

weevil added 10:09 - Dec 2 Punishments like this should not be retrospective. I run away from a crime and am not caught for 10 years. I then get caught and am sentenced to 11 years in prison. So I only get 1 year in prison. Make sense FA? Sort your fcking lives out FA. You are an absolute disgrace. Bordering on worse than FIFA, and that's saying something.
0

Paulblue62 added 16:42 - Dec 2 Good. The bloke is a right t0$$er.
0

dusth added 19:11 - Dec 2 We must get Kevin Bru back on Saturday. 17 is Cellino's unlucky number. He sacked a player for being born on the 17th.
0

dusth added 19:15 - Dec 2 Or if he isn't fit, put him on the bench and have him warming up every ten minutes.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls