Confusion and doubt surrounds Leeds takeover
Political economy of Football 23/1/14
Confusion and doubt is surrounding the projected takeover of Leeds United. Leeds never seem to have much good fortune when it comes to sorting out their ownership and it has undoubtedly held back their progression to the Premiership.
United have been on course for a change of ownership for almost two months but the sale of 75 per cent stake from current owner GFH to Sport Capital – a consortium led by Leeds managing director David Haigh – ran into problems earlier this week.
The two parties have been locked in negotiations for the past 48 hours but neither side was able to offer reassurance last night or provide a certain timescale for completion.
And the situation at Elland Road was clouded further amid reports from Italy that Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino was poised to complete his own 75 per cent buy-out of Leeds.
Sources close to United dismissed those claims but it is understood that Cellino has held talks with Haigh and Andrew Flowers, another of Sport Capital’s members. No deal has been agreed between them.
Indeed, Cellino insists that he is not trying to buying the club, but is acting as an adviser to the consortium. He said, 'We are just talking, looking at numbers.' Leeds fans will be hoping that the talking comes to a conclusion.
What sort of advice the Sardinian entrepreneur would offer is an interesting question. Calgari under his leadership has to some extent flourished and established itself in Serie A rather than hovering between the top three divisions as the Rossoblu did in the late 1980s.
But Cellino's attempts to build a more suitable new ground for Cagliari have been a comedy of errors and ended in a bizarre period of house arrest last year when he was accused of embezzlement - charges that seemed spurious and politically motivated.
And Cellino's hands-on approach may not work well at Leeds or any other English club for that matter, even given that the turnover of managers has become increasingly rapid. The fiery businessman is known as a mangiaallenatori or 'manager eater' in Italy as he loses patience very quickly. Cellino axed a total of 36 coaches in 20 years at Cagliari.
Confusion and doubt is surrounding the projected takeover of Leeds United. Leeds never seem to have much good fortune when it comes to sorting out their ownership and it has undoubtedly held back their progression to the Premiership.
United have been on course for a change of ownership for almost two months but the sale of 75 per cent stake from current owner GFH to Sport Capital – a consortium led by Leeds managing director David Haigh – ran into problems earlier this week.
The two parties have been locked in negotiations for the past 48 hours but neither side was able to offer reassurance last night or provide a certain timescale for completion.
And the situation at Elland Road was clouded further amid reports from Italy that Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino was poised to complete his own 75 per cent buy-out of Leeds.
Sources close to United dismissed those claims but it is understood that Cellino has held talks with Haigh and Andrew Flowers, another of Sport Capital’s members. No deal has been agreed between them.
Indeed, Cellino insists that he is not trying to buying the club, but is acting as an adviser to the consortium. He said, 'We are just talking, looking at numbers.' Leeds fans will be hoping that the talking comes to a conclusion.
What sort of advice the Sardinian entrepreneur would offer is an interesting question. Calgari under his leadership has to some extent flourished and established itself in Serie A rather than hovering between the top three divisions as the Rossoblu did in the late 1980s.
But Cellino's attempts to build a more suitable new ground for Cagliari have been a comedy of errors and ended in a bizarre period of house arrest last year when he was accused of embezzlement - charges that seemed spurious and politically motivated.
And Cellino's hands-on approach may not work well at Leeds or any other English club for that matter, even given that the turnover of managers has become increasingly rapid. The fiery businessman is known as a mangiaallenatori or 'manager eater' in Italy as he loses patience very quickly. Cellino axed a total of 36 coaches in 20 years at Cagliari.
