Massimo Cellino has surprisingly offered to resign as President of Cagliari. “It was my duty to resign because I was struck by a criminal investigation.”
The Sardinian side’s longest serving President, who celebrates his 20th year in charge of the outfit this season, yesterday informed the board of his decision to step down.
The board have voted to reject his resignation and it is believed that a final decision on Cellino’s future in the role will only be taken in the summer.
Massimo Cellino has surprisingly offered to resign as President of Cagliari. “It was my duty to resign because I was struck by a criminal investigation.”
The Sardinian side’s longest serving President, who celebrates his 20th year in charge of the outfit this season, yesterday informed the board of his decision to step down.
The board have voted to reject his resignation and it is believed that a final decision on Cellino’s future in the role will only be taken in the summer.
“It was my duty to resign because I was struck by a criminal investigation and did not want to involve the board of directors against their will,” Cellino explained to L’Unione Sarda.
“In March, they will meet again to decide the future of Cagliari.
“Although I think this [investigation] is science fiction fantasy, if called to trial, I will resign immediately and irrevocably, I am not attached to a role like some of the directors.”
The criminal investigation in question was launched by the local court in light of the ongoing dispute between Cellino and Cagliari’s city authorities over the ownership, upkeep and future of the Stadio Sant’Elia.
Cellino is keen to build a new ground at his own expense, but the city has proven reluctant to this. In the meantime, the temporary stands erected some seven years ago were found to be unsafe and forced the full and then partial closure of the ground to supporters.
The local businessman has resigned as President before, when in 2005 he took similar action after a string of bad results on the pitch and briefly handed the reigns over to Bruno Ghirardi.