Massimo Cellino insisted he is “not going to run away” after he was disqualified from owning Leeds United.
The former Cagliari President took over the English Championship club in April, but today was told he failed the Football League’s Owners and Directors Test over a tax evasion conviction in Italy.
“If I have to buy a ticket to watch a game, I will do it, but I am not going to run away,” Cellino told Sky Sports News.
Massimo Cellino insisted he is “not going to run away” after he was disqualified from owning Leeds United.
The former Cagliari President took over the English Championship club in April, but today was told he failed the Football League’s Owners and Directors Test over a tax evasion conviction in Italy.
“If I have to buy a ticket to watch a game, I will do it, but I am not going to run away,” Cellino told Sky Sports News.
“The fans deserve something nice. They are very clever because they trust me; they see some hope in me. I don’t want to disappoint them.
“I will do everything that I can by the law to protect this club – I promise. I feel stronger today because I got my partners and they will give more money to run the club.
“All I can tell you is that we will not walk away, we are keeping the club, stronger than before. We will fight everything by law, respecting the rules.
“I am going to respect the rules, someone else is not doing that and you’ll find out sooner or later.”
As the conviction will expire on March 18 2015, Cellino could leave the club in the hands of his partners and then return.
“We have received a notice from the Football League disqualifying Mr Cellino from being a director of Leeds United Football Club until 18 March 2015,” read a statement from Leeds United.
“The club is in the process of taking legal advice on the reasoning of the decision. In the interim, the club notes that nothing has changed since the decision of the Football League's Professional Conduct Committee in April 2014.
“The steps that the League wishes the club to take – to remove Mr Cellino only to re-appoint him in three months’ time – will be destabilising for the club, its supporters and sponsors and cannot be in the best interests of any party.”