Leeds claim that Brian McDermott is still in charge despite reports that he had been sacked on Friday

Telegraph 1/2/14
Confusion reigns at Elland Road as Leeds insist McDermott is still the club's manager
By Peter Ferguson
Leeds United’s turbulent week climaxed in extraordinary fashion on Saturday night when the club announced that Brian McDermott, the manager they had reportedly sacked on Friday evening, remained in charge after all.
McDermott, in charge for nine months after succeeding Neil Warnock, was the first casualty of the uncompleted takeover by the Italian Massimo Cellino.
His assistant, Nigel Gibbs, was given charge of the team for a resounding 5-1 derby win against Huddersfieldon Saturday, their first in nine games, in front of a 31,000 crowd that sang McDermott’s name repeatedly, some having demonstrated outside Elland Road before kick-off.
Leeds are still owned by GFH Capital until Cellino’s £25 million buy-out is completed. A club statement read: “The club would like to make it clear that Brian McDermott remains our first team manager. He has not been dismissed from his post as has been suggested and we look forward to him continuing in his role with us in taking Leeds United forwards.”
Cellino is in the final stages of a buy-out after a previous takeover bid by Sport Capital, which involves managing director David Haigh, fell through following due diligence.
McDermott was reportedly fired on transfer deadline day for refusing to allow Gianluca Festa, a lieutenant of Cellino, to sit on the bench for a 1-1 draw with Ipswich. McDermott’s stock had already fallen with GFH Capital after successive defeats by Rochdale, in the FA Cup, and Sheffield Wednesday, in the Championship. He is still not certain to remain given the current uncertainty surrounding the club.
Shirt sponsor Enterprise Insurance withdrew its backing, as did Flamingo Land, the Yorkshire theme park that sponsors the academy, while some of the fans Cellino describes as “very, very special” gathered at the ground on Friday night to remonstrate against his plans.
Cellino, 57, who has owned Serie A club Cagliari since 1992, has still to pass the Football League’s fit and proper person test, having been convicted of fraud in Italy.
On the pitch Ross McCormack, the captain and leading scorer who was the subject of failed bids by West Ham and Cardiff this week, scored a hat-trick.
Gibbs, who said he had only found out at 12.15pm yesterday that he was taking charge of the team instead of McDermott, said: “It was his team, his performance, his victory. [The statement] is good news, we all want him to stay. The team played for Brian, absolutely. I’ve spoken to him and he was delighted with the result and performance.”

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