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Massimo Cellino: Good For Leeds United

Article by  e-Leeds Correspondent Gwyn Hughes

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As the take-over of Leeds United trundles on under its own slipstream of uncertainty, the fans of this unique football club increasingly feel the strain of impending gloom from the fear of it all fizzling out to nothing in the end. It must be the longest ever take-over in the history of football, if not in the business world. Certainly feels like it.

The prospect of another week to 10 days of waiting to see if the Football League approves of whether Massimo Cellino is suitable to run a football club is working its way towards fraying the nerves that have already started to shred by how this season has gone so far. It rapidly feels that this current one is on a knife-edge, not knowing whether it will turn out to be the start of something beautiful or a ride towards humiliating obscurity and financial hell.

The recent revelations of not being able to pay bills, wages and other essential things important in the running of a football club has sent shockwaves throughout the ranks. Unbelievably, Leeds are heading towards another financial abyss reminiscent to what happened under Ridsdale's watch. This state of affairs have all along been hidden behind the smiles and reassurances of people who had been given the all-clear by the Football League to run Leeds United only over a year ago. The sudden decline in the club's finances have been nothing short of staggering incompetency more suited to rookie, inexperienced novices, and the continuance of the present regime does not bear thinking about. The news recently that David Haigh and Salah Nooruddin will contine to be involved with the running of Leeds United when Massimo Cellino does take over fills me with equal doses of incredulity and dread. Very strange things are happening at Leeds United of which no-one seems to know why the club is where it's at, or how it will all pan out.

Isn't this proof that Leeds were taken over by a company who weren't able to afford to run the club back in December 2012? It appears that GFH Capital have been running the club at a loss for some time, perhaps even from the beginning of their tenure, but somehow they were allowed to become owners of Leeds United. Their 'strategy' has been to apply for loans in order to keep its employees paid, which if it continues will force Leeds to go under and possibly go the same way, perish the thought, as Portsmouth did. Future ticket sales have been used already, meaning that Leeds are not making any money from gate receipts this season. This is as frightening as it is foolhardy! They are living on credit with no ability to pay it back.

They say that the crew on the Titanic never realised at first how badly damaged the ship was until it was too late to save all those unfortunate people who they relied on for their safety. Whilst I cannot justifiably compare the tragedy of what happened on that fateful night in 1912, on a massively lesser extent Leeds United feels like its sinking fast as more time passes. As the debts grow, so does the club's ability to hold its head above the waves, which will become more turbulent, if we don't get taken over soon.

Getting Cellino on board is absolutely crucial for us. He HAS to get the green light to take over Leeds.

And who allowed this to happen? Well, of course the Football League did, and I'm pretty sure that it didn't take them as long to approve GFH Capital either. So, the Cellino take-over must happen. I know that we have another consortium in the wings to step in and buy the club but their finances are as secretive as they are obtuse and at this point no-one knows how much money they really have. I suspect that the group headed by Mike Farnan have a similar business plan as GFH Capital, pooling their financial resources together through credit and investment which will be nowhere near the levels that the Italian businessman has. Cellino does have the wealth to not only pay off outstanding debts (incurred by GFH's financial mistakes) and invest in creating a team worthy of promotion to the Premiership. I seriously doubt that the Farnan group have this level of available dosh to match Cellino. The absolute proof of the pudding in regards to Cellino's credentials and promises is when he buys back Elland Road and Thorp Arch as he has stated he will do.

Cellino: On his way?
But who are the Football League to be so apparently finicky and long-drawn in deciding if Cellino is ok to buy Leeds? Surely all the paperwork has been done and inspected by now? Are they looking for something to trip up the Italian, despite the overwhelming evidence that now exists that he has the money and the experience to run a football club successfully. Leeds have had some bad experiences with the Football League in recent times and if they give Cellino the thumbs down I smell a rat. We, as fans, can forgive ourselves for being a little paranoid when it comes to the establishment versus Leeds confrontations, but I always feel a bit nervous when we have to depend on others, especially those in authority, to enable us to have something that favours progression for the club. Being docked so many points when we were relegated to League 1 was outrageous and that punishment having been decided by the chairmen of other clubs in that division was a blatant, biased and arrogant statement on how others hate Leeds United and would do anything to hurt our progress.

When you consider what happened at Portsmouth a few years ago, where they changed ownership almost after every home game at one time, I hope that the process of approving individuals for owning clubs has improved 100% since then. Of course, Cellino has, let's say, fallen foul with the authorities in the past (who hasn't?) but isn't this the case of individuals with ambition? There will always be obstacles whenever anyone wants to achieve goals. I'm sure that there are a few present owners of football clubs who have at some stage been involved in less than a kosher dealing or two, so if Cellino gets turned down I think it would be quite rough on Leeds, and would start fuelling the inevitable conspiracy theories. To his credit he has run Cagliari very satisfactorily in terms of keeping them in the top flight, and for such a long time. 22 years is a long time involved with a club, and only a handful of seasons were spent outside of Serie A. Roman Abramovich of Chelsea has a long way to go to before he even matches that record. Cellino has been good for the area (his home town) as well as the club, investing in the infrastructure, such as a sports centre near Cagliari, and is a past vice-president of the Lega Calcio (Italian Serie A League).

Once approved, Cellino will change the way Leeds United is run there is no doubt about that. His record as Cagliari owner will have many fearing what he will get up to at Leeds but I disagree. I think he is really well suited for Leeds because firstly he is very much an individual in every sense of the word, a man who is not afraid to make his own decisions and stand by them. We want genuine people to run Leeds. And secondly, I think he sees a little of Cagliari in Leeds as a club and as a geographical and sociological area, though Leeds is a city club and will be a step up for him in terms of popularity and influence. I get the impression that Cagliari had to fight to get where they are and this is not unlike what Leeds have had to do, especially in the last 10 years. I hope that he will learn about the definitive Leeds United culture, the way we are and the way we like our club to play football.

So, come on Football League, let's get the show on the road. Help save Leeds United from another embarrassing financial meltdown and start the process of getting Leeds where they belong.

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16 comments:

  1. Am I to take it you are a Leeds fan and yet you want this guy to buy our club?
    I really cannot understand how you think he will be good for LUFC!
    He is selling is beloved home-town club, yet a man who is supposed to be minted didn’t put a great deal of funds into that very club that was his childhood love, he ran it on a Bates model yet unlike Bates made it work a tad without any investment
    what makes you think he will invest cash into LUFC?
    because he his quoted as saying he will?
    he says he did sack BMD then says he didn’t sack BMD. trust him at your peril.
    will he be any good for LUFC only time will tell but I am sorry to say the evidence does not support the theory that he will be good for LUFC

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  2. He is basically the Italian version of Ken Bates and look where that got us.

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  3. An excellent article, I'm sure that emotionally many might disagree and be nervous of the involvement of Cellino but taking a dispassionate view what you says makes a lot of sense. The only thing that really worries me are the FA, we seem to be a special case with them and they seem to do all that they can to hurt Leeds, let’s have some fairness and equity from the FA please.

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  4. Wise up he's the man for us are you blind.

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  5. FA/FL should be the ones to be looked at and investigated. They will do everything in their power to hinder/ruin Leeds United. When It involves Leeds they always want to do something new, set an example, change the rules. Then scrap it for other clubs soon after we have been shafted.

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  6. This article is such a barrowload of circuitous, uninformed and unsubstantiated wishful thinking disguised as an argument for having an Italian Ken Bates in charge of LUFC as to suggest that it comes directly from the Cellino camp.
    What part of CelliNO don't you understand?

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  7. No, let's not say he's fallen foul of the authorities in the past. Let's say he's a convicted criminal with yet another date with the courts pending. Let's say he tells lies to the Leeds fans. Let's say you're a dreamer if you think this leopard is going to change his spots.

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  8. excellent article I agree on every point you make, Cellino whatever you may think of him is the only viable long term option,something fans opposed to him better start to come to terms with that is of course if the Football League want LUFC to have a future.

    Undoubtedly there will be some sort of confidentiality clause in any deal and we fans may never see the full picture at what has been happening at Elland Road for the last decade.

    Finally on the subject of the manager no matter how good and honest a bloke we hear McDermott may be[I don't know him so I can't answer that] the truth is he's way in over his head at Leeds, he got lucky at an over achieving Reading team and was proved to be out of his depth in the big league and no matter how many millions Cellino may pump into the squad we're going nowhere with the current manager, tough but the results we've had in a bad league don't lie.

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  9. like what happens on a Saturday we have very little control over it and win loose or draw we still have to turn up at work on Monday. the same applies here should chellino take over invest millions and we were to get back to the premiere lge. or languish here wondering and not knowing w hat lies ahead well still be supporting our team and turning in for work as per but on the Brightside it gives us something to talk about

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  10. Naturally Leeds fans are wary of Cellino, but as things stand it's get onboard with him or we'll probably sink.
    Plus, comparing his investment in Cagliari to that of Leeds is nonsensical. He took them from from Serie B club to a mainstay on Serie A. The reason he stopped investing in the team is because of the situation with their ground. How can an owner sustain investment when a clubs income dries up?
    The situation with Leeds is different. Invest in Leeds and it will result in a windfall when we get promoted. That coupled with the fact we have a big, well equipped stadium explains his analogy of Fiat's vs Ferrari's.

    The future is far from clear, but slagging off Cellino already when he's simply stated that he wants to see us playing Manchester United and buy back the ground is mindless barking. Listen to the Cagliari fans - they all agree that he's a clever and astute businessman. He can't be very clever if he has intentions for anything other than getting us in the Premier League after spending £25m on us.

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  11. Good article! Reading the negative and postive comments above there does seem to be a pattern forming. All the negative comments appear to be coming from blinkered "bates haters" who apparently dont have the abilty to form there own opions but just jump on any band wagon that means they can vent anger at matches and forums alike. Whilst i didnt like Bates very much he managed to keep leeds afloat (after the initial administration) for 6 years. GFH have dropped Leeds into financial mess within 12 months! With regards Cellino, listen to fans of Cagliari -they love the guy! Why make him out to be a monster without giving him a chance? Cant be any worse for the club than where we are at the moment can it?

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  12. THIS ARTICLE IS RUBBISH Just see Yorkshire Post article today:
    http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-cellino-divides-the-opinions-of-all-fans-1-6443575

    We ain't getting no Ferrari - Cellini is. We are the Ferrari - he is buying the fan base - if the FL approve him. He will do owt to make money - even move us to Lancashire if it will make him megabucks. Is he interested in the fans NO. Is he interested in football NO. He is simply a crazy trader with no scruples . Revie would turn in his grave. Better administration than the mafia. This soap opera isn't over Devon White

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  13. Give the man a shot - we have nothing else! He has money and ambition - Bates/GFH had neither and it has got us nowhere....

    Save the negative comments and get behind him.

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  14. I've lived in a culture similar to that of Sardigna and for sure Cellino has had to deal with all sorts of people wanting a cut and trying to block his progress in building a stadium for their own financial benefit.

    Credit to him that he's tried all sorts of options to get a home stadium off the ground but seems every power that be has tried to stop him and those who didn't get their pay day have put cases against him, that's frequently how it works.

    As stated he's kept Cagliari in Serie A for the vast majority of his years in charge even when denied an income stream by being forced to have a fan base lower than Yeovil because of others interfering.

    Believe me, if Cellino wanted to make money there are far easier ways of doing it than buying a championship or even premiership club and he's already proved he can do it.

    He's coming to Leeds with a passion and a desire to be successful, this is what he craves, not money, which is why he's lost patience with people contnually putting the spanner in the wheels elsewhere and why he now wants to try where at least on the basis of it he has a big club with massive potential and an external audience who have only limited teeth to stop him.

    Give the guy a chance and he'll do fantastic things for us that he was prevented from doing with Cagliari.

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  15. I agree with many other LUFC fans the FA & FL hate us, and wont let this T/O happen.

    Cellino would be good for LUFC because, I believe the only way he can make money out of LUFC would be if we got promoted to the premiership.

    So come on FL we have suffered long enough.

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  16. I can understand fans being wary of Cellino; the dodgy history and the crazy antics on Jan 31st did not look good and has not done him any favours. Leeds need money NOW, and he has it. Also Leeds are not Cagliari and England isn't Italy/Sardinia. I think we have shown plenty to Cellino that we will not be messed about and it is HE who will have to change rather than us accepting any dodgy behaviour if he takes Leeds over. I say give him a chance. He wants to buy Leeds and to succeed, doesn't he?

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