Cellino will not sell Leeds to fans group

Cellino’s proposed deal to sell the club to the supporters group has collapsed amid much acrimony - after the Italian invited the group to bid for his majority stake late last week.

LFU have accused Cellino of “insincerity” after refusing to grant them a period of exclusivity to perform due diligence and arrange a buy-out of his 77 per cent shareholding, which they estimated to cost a minimum of £30million.

Cellino has rejected their request and criticised the group for courting publicity since he made a verbal offer to sell during a meeting at Elland Road last Friday.

Sources close to Cellino claim he has been in contact with at least two other prospective buyers this week, including one in London on Monday.

Adamant he wants to call time on his fraught 18-month spell at Elland Road, he said: “Yes. I’m very hurt and sad. I can’t take anymore.

“They (LFU) say a lot of fairytales. They really are like kids in a sweet shop.

“They talk too much. It is dangerous, this kind of publicity. My lawyers prefer to deal with buyers (who are) a little more reserved.”