Cellino announces he will not return to Leeds United

MASSIMO CELLINO has announced he will not be returning to an official role at Leeds United when his ban expires in April.

The former president of the Elland Road club had been banned by the Football League for 79 days in relation to a conviction in an Italian court.

In an open letter to fans he said he had decided not to return as president after his unsuccessful appeal against the disqualification but chose not to announce anything until now to avoid “unsettling the harmony of the team in a period of key league tournament matches”.

He said: “I wish to point out that I have immediately complied with all the requests of the Football League and, for such purposes, I instructed my consultants to arrange for all required actions in order to ensure my prompt exit from any management responsibility in the club.

“After a due process, I have also sold – with a clear harm to my interests – a minority stake in the club, so that in no way I could be prevented from freely acting as an independent citizen and individual before any authority.

“My decision has developed because I have realised that about one year ago I had been admitted as President of the club when the latter was very close to insolvency. Only after my restructuring activities and the material funding by the new corporate member I found myself expelled from the club on the basis of interpretation and immediate application of an Italian measure that, although in Italy is ineffective and subject to reasonable cancellation, the Football League has elected to enforce under its own rules.”

Mr Cellino plans to contest further action by the Football League and believes his move will get him greater freedom to do this effectively.

He added: “Moreover, while I am already ousted, the Football League is now pursuing a new claim against me based on circumstances that do not belong to me and have already been clarified and heavily stigmatized by my lawyers.

“All of the above leads me to reconfirm the decision already reached in January so that I may be free of defending myself as any normal citizen, and I will not hesitate to do so before any authority because of my honesty, my commitment and due care to the club for which I have already invested one year of hard work. This is what I am called for also honouring a team that I have loved and for all the support and attachment I have received from fans, players, employees, contractors and professionals who have been close to me and I wish to thank once again.”

Leeds United chairman Andrew Umbers added: “Massimo Cellino has made a decision to separately, and in his own name, challenge the Football League’s decision on the Appeal Hearing of January 15 to reject his appeal and challenge its correctness in law. Subsequent to the Appeal Hearing on January 15, he has abided by the FL rulings on disqualification and has also disposed of any personal ‘interests’ in Eleonora Immobiliare S.P.A and Eleonora Sport Ltd ( the majority shareholder of LUFC).

“Massimo Cellino is taking this independent action so that LUFC is seen to be fully compliant with the Football League Rules and thus help the football club avoid any sanctions. LUFC are optimistic as to the outcome of the Disciplinary Panel Hearing and of the Rule K Hearing.”