Cellino “wishes he had never bought Leeds United”

IN his latest claim, chairman and owner of Leeds United has said he would sell to an appropriate buyer and that he wishes he had “never bought the club.”

The Football League was due to consider his return as chairman last week.

The Italian businessman acquired the club in April 2014, and has been plagued with bans from the League, tax evasion charges, as well as furore over staff departures from Leeds United.

Though he has promised to sell the club before, following campaigns by fans, he reneged on his promise to sell to a consortium of Leeds fans.

“I’ve had enough,” he told The Times. “It’s better to walk out, not because I’m dishonest but because I’m tired and hurt and lonely.

“Why did they disqualify me when they knew the truth? I don’t want to complain because I’m a foreigner but I’m lost. I have no happiness any more and don’t know if I have the enthusiasm for the next season.

“If I could turn back time and you ask whether I would come to this club, I would say never. But now what should I do? Cry?”

Last week, Cellino’s son Ercole stepped down from the board following criticisms over his use of social media. His other son Eduardo was suspended and fined £5,000 by the Football Association for comments he made on social media.

The FA said that the messages included a reference to disability. According to reports Mr Cellino called the fan “spastic” over social media.

This follows a difficult time for the HR department at Leeds United, with tribunals brought against the business, including those of education and welfare officer Lucy Ward, who was dismissed after 17 years , and an unlawful dismissal claim in which the club paid out more than £300,000 to LUFC assistant manager Nigel Gibbs.