Leeds United manager Brian McDermott lifted by Massimo Cellino's appeal victory
Telegraph 6/4/14
Under-fire Leeds manager says decision to allow controversial Italian's takeover is a weight off his mind
By Steven Sutcliffe
Brian McDermott, the Leeds United manager, is looking forward to concentrating on football again after the strain of three months of talking about nothing but Massimo Cellino and the perilous state of the club’s ownership.
Last month the Italian’s £25 million takeover was blocked by the board of the Football League, which rejected the Cagliari owner’s offer under the ‘owners and directors’ test after he was convicted of tax evasion by a Sardinian court.
However, after Leeds had lost 1-0 at Wigan Athletic on Saturday, news filtered through that an independent hearing led by QC Tim Kerr had overturned that decision, paving the way for Cellino to take control and end the state of flux at Elland Road.
With a percentage of the players’ wages being deferred in March, the debilitating effects of boardroom anarchy has transmitted to the club’s on-field fortunes – with McDermott barracked by supporters for a plummeting run that has delivered just three wins since the turn of the year and seven defeats from their last eight league outings.
“It’s a weight off my shoulders in the fact that I don’t have to front up every press conference and talk about the ownership because that’s all I’ve been doing for three months,” McDermott said.
“I’ve not ducked any interview, I’ve been involved in every single interview and I’ve tried to answer the questions as best as I possibly can.
“It will be nice just to talk about the next game, try to get three points and see where we are as a football team. That’s my job, not talking about ownerships.”
Despite being sacked and reinstated already by Cellino and with his position likely to be under increased scrutiny following such a damaging sequence of results, McDermott insisted that he would welcome the opportunity to work with the new man at the helm, who he believes has the financial might to initially help the club back on to an even kilter and then restore former glories.
“I can work with Massimo,” McDermott said. “It’s the prerogative of any owner, in any situation, to choose the manager he wants to work with. I absolutely respect that. I’ve spoken to him on a number of occasions and, for me, the most important thing is not the position of the manager, or any individual player, it is Leeds United Football Club going forward.
“I think there’s a lot to be done, off-the-field stuff as well. It’s a big job to be had, there’s no doubt about that.
“From what I know though he’s a leader, he’s had a club for 22 years and he’s been consistent with that. I know he has financial clout. Which is something we possibly haven’t had for many, many years.”
Under-fire Leeds manager says decision to allow controversial Italian's takeover is a weight off his mind
By Steven Sutcliffe
Brian McDermott, the Leeds United manager, is looking forward to concentrating on football again after the strain of three months of talking about nothing but Massimo Cellino and the perilous state of the club’s ownership.
Last month the Italian’s £25 million takeover was blocked by the board of the Football League, which rejected the Cagliari owner’s offer under the ‘owners and directors’ test after he was convicted of tax evasion by a Sardinian court.
However, after Leeds had lost 1-0 at Wigan Athletic on Saturday, news filtered through that an independent hearing led by QC Tim Kerr had overturned that decision, paving the way for Cellino to take control and end the state of flux at Elland Road.
With a percentage of the players’ wages being deferred in March, the debilitating effects of boardroom anarchy has transmitted to the club’s on-field fortunes – with McDermott barracked by supporters for a plummeting run that has delivered just three wins since the turn of the year and seven defeats from their last eight league outings.
“It’s a weight off my shoulders in the fact that I don’t have to front up every press conference and talk about the ownership because that’s all I’ve been doing for three months,” McDermott said.
“I’ve not ducked any interview, I’ve been involved in every single interview and I’ve tried to answer the questions as best as I possibly can.
“It will be nice just to talk about the next game, try to get three points and see where we are as a football team. That’s my job, not talking about ownerships.”
Despite being sacked and reinstated already by Cellino and with his position likely to be under increased scrutiny following such a damaging sequence of results, McDermott insisted that he would welcome the opportunity to work with the new man at the helm, who he believes has the financial might to initially help the club back on to an even kilter and then restore former glories.
“I can work with Massimo,” McDermott said. “It’s the prerogative of any owner, in any situation, to choose the manager he wants to work with. I absolutely respect that. I’ve spoken to him on a number of occasions and, for me, the most important thing is not the position of the manager, or any individual player, it is Leeds United Football Club going forward.
“I think there’s a lot to be done, off-the-field stuff as well. It’s a big job to be had, there’s no doubt about that.
“From what I know though he’s a leader, he’s had a club for 22 years and he’s been consistent with that. I know he has financial clout. Which is something we possibly haven’t had for many, many years.”
