Leeds United: Parkin agrees to sponsor East Stand at Elland Road

The lifelong Leeds fan, who has been linked with potential buy-outs of United on at least three occasions over the years, is funding sponsorship of the club’s main stand through his distribution firm, Clipper Logistics.

Parkin’s intentions have been the subject of speculation since Christmas following his repeated appearances alongside United owner Massimo Cellino at several Championship games.

He was reported to be negotiating a £30m takeover of United in November but those rumours came to nothing. Parkin, who previously tried to buy Leeds in 2004 and 2013, appeared to rule out any chance of him acquiring Cellino’s majority shareholding in the near future during a recent interview with the Sunday Telegraph.

Parkin told the Telegraph: “I’m not into having my mugshot over the papers. I’ve got four young children.

“That’s what scares me about it. At the moment I wouldn’t do it because I haven’t got time.

“When the children grow up maybe but the youngest is nine. At some stage I’ll ease off here (at Clipper Logistics) but if I put my money into Leeds I’d want to being running it. I’d want to know what was going on and I haven’t got time for that right now.”

Parkin was present again in the directors box at Saturday’s 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, though Cellino did not attend that match.

Leeds confirmed this afternoon that a deal had been reached for Parkin’s firm to sponsor the East Stand at Elland Road.

Parkin told the club’s official website: “As a lifelong Leeds fan I’m delighted to have the business I’ve built over the past two decades become a sponsor of the club.”