Gossip Column (February 14): Leeds protest | How Hull nearly signed Vardy | How much did Barnsley get for John Stones?

Leeds United face Middlesbrough at Elland Road on Monday night with the prospect of a protest from fans unhappy at the ownership of Massimo Cellino.
Massimo CellinoMassimo Cellino
Massimo Cellino

The warning comes after posters were placed outside the ground last week urging Cellino it was ‘Time to Go’ after supporters became disillusioned with his running of the club.

The ‘Time To Go Massimo’ group has spent much of Sunday calling for the support of other Leeds fans in holding the demonstration, and has raised over £3,000 to fund the protest.

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Last week’s advert carried the slogan ‘Time to go, Massimo’ and listed a series of promises which the supporters claimed Cellino had failed to keep in his time as owner of the club. It also featured a caricature of the Italian with a red cross covering his face.

John Stones in his Barnsley days (Picture: PA).John Stones in his Barnsley days (Picture: PA).
John Stones in his Barnsley days (Picture: PA).

It remains to be seen what form the protest will take and how many of the crowd will actually take part.

The match has already created controversy after SKY TV moved it to a Monday night and faced objections from Cellino who is unhappy with the number of games being chosen for live screening.

SKY TV needed to go through the courts in order to get an injunction to cover the match.

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Hull City nearly signed Premier League man of the moment Jamie Vardy - for £300k.

Leicester City's Jamie VardyLeicester City's Jamie Vardy
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy

The Daily Star has revealed how former Tigers manager Nigel Pearson tried to sign him from Fleetwood for Hull before taking him to Leicester for £1m.

England striker Vardy, 29, who scored his 19th goal of the season for Leicester at Arsenal today, was playing non-league football for Stocksbridge Park Steels when he was first brought to the attention of fellow Sheffield resident Pearson.

David Moyes has revealed on Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday how Barnsley defender John Stones cost Everton just £1.25m.

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The 21-year-old was Moyes’ final signing at Goodison Park in January 2013.

John Stones in his Barnsley days (Picture: PA).John Stones in his Barnsley days (Picture: PA).
John Stones in his Barnsley days (Picture: PA).

At the time, it was reported that Barnsley had received £3m for the homegrown defender.

Everton rejected bids in excess of £30m for the defender last summer.

Moyes said: “I laugh when people say we paid £3m for John Stones, it was £1.25m.

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“It was in the January and the last signing of the window. We were trying to bring a striker in that we needed but we didn’t have the money.

Leicester City's Jamie VardyLeicester City's Jamie Vardy
Leicester City's Jamie Vardy

“I had a couple of scouts who said ‘you’ve got to watch this lad at Barnsley’ so I went to Barnsley and he was someone we thought could be a right-back or a centre-back but had a natural ability to be comfortable on the ball. It was not coached or taught.

“He’s got a great mentality and great temperament.”

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