Cellino to distance himself from Leeds to explore independent appeal

The controversial Italian was forced to cut all ties with the club midway through last month.

It followed his failure to overturn the edict from the governing body that disqualified Cellino from owning and running the club, which related to his conviction for tax evasion.

Cellino had indicated in the immediate aftermath of stepping down as president that he would resume control on April 10.

However, in an open letter to supporters last night, the 58-year-old revealed his desire to challenge his ban via the Football Association’s arbitration process.

And to “help the club avoid any sanctions”, Cellino intends to continue that fight while not formally connected to a club that is 75 per cent owned by his family company, Eleanora Sport Limited.

He said: “My intention was to resume in April the office of president of Leeds United after expiration of the disqualification term.

“I will not do so and I had actually decided not to do so in January, soon after the confirmation by the Football League of its verdict.”

Cellino also revealed that he had sold a “minority” stake in the club since his ban was enforced. He did not, though, reveal to whom those shares have been sold.

The United president’s ban relates to him being found guilty in an Italian court of not paying tax on a luxury yacht called ‘Nellie’.

His argument to the League that the offence did not constitute a conviction under Italian law until it had passed through three stages of the law was rejected by the League’s Professional Conduct Committee.

Cellino’s statement added: “Moreover, while I am already ousted, the Football League is now pursuing a new claim against me based on circumstances that do not belong to me and have already been clarified and heavily stigmatized [sic] by my lawyers.”

No explanation was offered as to what this “new claim” relates to, but Cellino and Leeds are facing possible further punishment over a failure to disclose documents relating to his tax conviction when requested to do so by the League.

An independent Football Disciplinary Commission, which has a full range of powers at its disposal, will investigate whether the club and Cellino breached regulations.

Cellino has two more pending import tax cases to be heard in Italy, on a Range Rover and a second yacht called Lucky 23.

Brighton v Leeds United match report: Page 24.