Massimo Cellino: Brian McDermott will get a chance at Leeds United
Guardian 7/4/14
Prospective owner makes pledge to turn around club
Football League to consider takeover on Thursday
The prospective Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has hinted he will give the manager, Brian McDermott, the chance to turn around the club's on-field fortunes.
Cellino returned to England on Monday to prepare to take control at Elland Road after his successful appeal against the Football League's decision to block his takeover.
The Italian businessman's company, Eleonora Sport, exchanged contracts with owner Gulf Finance House Capital on 7 February to buy 75% of the club's shares.
The League's decision to bar Cellino from becoming Leeds owner after the 57-year-old was convicted in a Sardinia court for tax evasion was overturned by an independent lawyer, Tim Kerr QC, on Saturday.
Cellino could still be disqualified under the League's owners' and directors' test if the judge in Sardinia, Dr Sandra Lepore, says the Italian failed to pay import duty on his yacht dishonestly. Lepore's written report is not expected to be submitted until mid-June.
"I think he has to show he's a good manager," Cellino told Sky Sports News of McDermott. "He's had a lot of problems with the team, with the property, with the market but now we've solved that problem."
Cellino, who has owned Cagliari for 22 years, sacked the Italian club's manager Diego López on Sunday. Cagliari's weekend home defeat by Roma left them seven points clear of the relegation zone in Serie A and López, 39, is the 36th manager to be dismissed by Cellino during his time in charge.
Cellino said of the situation at Leeds: "I heard before every game how we've got a problem, there's no company, we don't have a chairman. OK, let's play now; let's look to tomorrow. I will help the team. Brian has got to do his job good and I'm going to give him everything that is good for the team."
The League is expected to decide at a board meeting on Thursday whether to ratify Cellino's takeover.
Prospective owner makes pledge to turn around club
Football League to consider takeover on Thursday
The prospective Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has hinted he will give the manager, Brian McDermott, the chance to turn around the club's on-field fortunes.
Cellino returned to England on Monday to prepare to take control at Elland Road after his successful appeal against the Football League's decision to block his takeover.
The Italian businessman's company, Eleonora Sport, exchanged contracts with owner Gulf Finance House Capital on 7 February to buy 75% of the club's shares.
The League's decision to bar Cellino from becoming Leeds owner after the 57-year-old was convicted in a Sardinia court for tax evasion was overturned by an independent lawyer, Tim Kerr QC, on Saturday.
Cellino could still be disqualified under the League's owners' and directors' test if the judge in Sardinia, Dr Sandra Lepore, says the Italian failed to pay import duty on his yacht dishonestly. Lepore's written report is not expected to be submitted until mid-June.
"I think he has to show he's a good manager," Cellino told Sky Sports News of McDermott. "He's had a lot of problems with the team, with the property, with the market but now we've solved that problem."
Cellino, who has owned Cagliari for 22 years, sacked the Italian club's manager Diego López on Sunday. Cagliari's weekend home defeat by Roma left them seven points clear of the relegation zone in Serie A and López, 39, is the 36th manager to be dismissed by Cellino during his time in charge.
Cellino said of the situation at Leeds: "I heard before every game how we've got a problem, there's no company, we don't have a chairman. OK, let's play now; let's look to tomorrow. I will help the team. Brian has got to do his job good and I'm going to give him everything that is good for the team."
The League is expected to decide at a board meeting on Thursday whether to ratify Cellino's takeover.