Leeds United fans plead with MP to name '˜second bidder with money' he says wants to buy club

Leeds-born Labour MP John Mann tweeted news of the buyer last night, adding that the price was a stumbling block.

Mr Mann, the MP for Bassetlaw, did not name either the first or second potential buyer and has still not done so, despite pleas from fans.

He also said current owner Massimo Cellino had overpaid for the club - though he wrongly named the seller as last-but-one owner Ken Bates.

Mr Mann is not the first to speculate on Twitter about the ownership of the club. Last year, Hollywood star Russell Crowe was linked with a takeover from Cellino, who is the subject of a “time to gonlyp-” campaign by some fans.

Cellino himself has given mixed messages since the crowd at Elland Road turned on him during Leeds United’s 2-0 defeat to Blackburn in October. He started and then rapidly halted discussions about a sale of the club to supporters group Leeds Fans United (LFU).

It is no secret that Steve Parkin, the businessman with a long-standing interest in buying Leeds, has been speaking to Cellino about possible investment and was pictured alongside him at several of United’s games. But in November, at a time when rumours about a Parkin takeover were rife, Cellino stated that he would not consider selling his shares until Leeds were safe from relegation.

Earlier this month, he changed tack again by telling Sky he would “invest in the summer” – an apparent promise of new players after Leeds’ sorry 4-0 defeat at Brighton.