Leeds United managing director resigns after clash with Massimo Cellino
Guardian 11/4/14David Haigh says his position has been made untenable
Police are called in to investigate spy camera allegations James Riach
David Haigh, the managing director at Leeds United, has resigned after claiming his position has been made untenable by the new owners.
On another turbulent day at Elland Road, Haigh admitted his "regret" at leaving the role, given that he introduced the new owner, Massimo Cellino, to the club and had given the Italian and his company Eleonora Sport "full and constant support" during the Football League's approval process for his takeover.
Earlier on Friday Leeds were engulfed in further intrigue when West Yorkshire police were called to Elland Road by Cellino after spy cameras were said to have been found in the boardroom and toilets. The police are investigating an "allegation of club funds being misappropriated for the purchase of technical equipment".
Haigh had been in line to become chief executive in Cellino's new regime, the Italian on Tuesday having completed a 75% buyout of Leeds for more than £30m from the previous owners, the Bahrain-based investment bank Gulf Finance House (GFH). The League could yet move against Cellino's ownership in June.
Cellino, convicted of false accounting and found guilty in Italy of illegally evading import tax on a yacht, was recently recorded discussing Haigh's position by a supporter and on Tuesday told the Guardian that the managing director would not have an influential role at the club.
Haigh said: "Owing to various statements made by and on behalf of the new majority owners of Leeds United FC, I am left with no alternative than to resign as managing director of the club.
"This is a matter of particular regret to me since I was the person who first introduced Eleonora Sport to the club's owners. I also gave them my full and constant support in the Football League's lengthy approval process.
"As is well known by those in or close to the club, my unstinting support of Leeds United throughout my time at the club has extended to loaning the club money to ensure that tax, players and staff were paid and to underpin its continuing viability - loans which to this day remain in the club."
Haigh played a key role in GFH's purchase of Leeds from Ken Bates in December 2012, but has been involved in a chaotic tenure of the club since then, with recent accounts showing losses of £9.5m for the 2012/13 financial year and United losing more than £1m a month before Cellino's takeover.
GFH still hold a 25% stake in the club but Haigh said money invested into Leeds through his Sport Capital consortium would be converted into shares for supporters.
"I had to deal with and manage what can only be described as the crazy situation of very limited support from those who should have supported the club and the management, whilst at the same time having little or no decision-making ability," he said. "On occasions this resulted in my paying club running expenses on my personal cards and last minute dashes to wire personal money to the club to pay the HMRC. "I have arranged for Sport Capital to convert some of the loans made to the club into shares and once complete, those shares will be given to the fans, so it truly will be the fans' club."