Rival duo team up to seek control of United

The controversial Italian, owner of Serie A side Cagliari, last week agreed terms on a £25m deal with Gulf Finance House, the Bahraini investment bank that bought out Ken Bates in December, 2012.

It is understood, however, that contracts have not yet been exchanged and this has alerted two rival bidders who had previously shown interest.

Andrew Flowers, who was behind the Sport Capital bid that floundered early last week, has joined forces with the Together Leeds group which includes former Hull City chairman Adam Pearson and Mike Farnan, the ex-Sunderland marketing chief.

They have pooled resources and the Yorkshire Post understands a delegation will meet representatives of GFH in London today.

Sources indicate that the newly-formed consortium are ready to match the Cellino bid in an attempt to wrest control away from the Italian, whose sacking of Brian McDermott on Friday night led to storms of protest in the city.

Cellino, according to those close to the Miami-based Italian, remains determined to push through his own deal.

Yesterday, however, his lawyer, Chris Farnell, was ordered to leave Elland Road by GFH and told not to return until a deal is concluded.

An e-mail from chairman Salah Nooruddin was then circulated to United’s office staff, instructing them only to take instructions from the existing board and no one else.

McDermott, sacked over the telephone by Farnell last Friday only to be reinstated in time to take training yesterday after GFH confirmed Cellino had no authority to make the decision, has also been given assurances that there will be no further interference from outside parties.

Last week, a request from Gianluca Festa, still believed to be Cellino’s preferred choice as manager despite weekend denials to the contrary, to sit on the dugout during the home game with Ipswich Town was rejected.

Outside the club, Cellino is also facing considerable opposition with the leader of Leeds City Council, Keith Wakefield, yesterday wading into the row by writing to the Football League to voice his dismay at the “strange and bizarre” events which engulfed the Yorkshire club over the weekend.

In the letter to League chief operating officer, Andy Williamson, Cllr Wakefield urged the governing body to “properly assess” anyone looking to gain control of United.

Under League rules, any new owner must pass the ‘Fit and Proper Persons’ Test’. Eleonora Sport Ltd, the family firm through which Cellino has made his bid, has already made a request for the relevant information from the League.

Cellino’s two past convictions for fraud are likely to count against any application in his name.

As for McDermott, a truly bizarre 72 hours that started with his apparent dismissal and included following his side’s 5-1 win over Huddersfield Town on television culminated yesterday morning in his return to the club’s Thorp Arch training ground.

In his weekend deliberations with GFH officials, McDermott had successfully sought certain reassurances from the board.

The Leeds manager, who has not spoken to Cellino since last week, added: “Basically, I am responsible for all football matters at the club. No one will be invited to the dugout or the dressing room or be able to speak to the players unless the manager okays it.

“I have assurances about who the owners are and I have been given assurances that I answer to GFH and GFH only. And when/if the club does change hands, I have been given assurances on who that is going to be.”

McDermott added: “We need to move forward in the best way we can and put this to bed. The ownership also needs to be resolved very, very quickly.

“I had a really good owner at Reading, Sir John Madejski, and he did a fantastic job. I worked with him for a long time and what we need is that type of person.

“We need that stability, where we work together and we all go in the same direction. I had that at Reading and I hope to have that at Leeds.”

The treatment of McDermott and the ensuing chaos caused upset not just in Leeds but in the wider game. The League Managers’ Association, for instance, believe the attempts by Cellino, previously rebuffed by West Ham and Crystal Palace, to take charge of the Yorkshire club were a “watershed moment” for the Football League. McDermott agrees.

He said: “Forget the situation we have got going on now. There is absolutely no doubt that the Football League have got to get that right. Because that is a duty of care.

“Now I am not commenting on our position, I’m talking in general. That is one of the most important decisions that the Football League will take.

“It is so important that they get that right and do their due diligence, and that the right people run football clubs.

“As for Leeds, I hope this can be a watershed moment. We need to get this place right back on track.”

While chaos was engulfing Elland Road on Friday night, one player – loanee Andrea Tabanelli – arrived ahead of the transfer window closing. Signed from Cellino’s club Cagliari, the 23-year-old is someone who McDermott admits he knows little about.

Tabanelli – the only one of five intended signings from Italy by Cellino – did not train yesterday and instead spent the morning with Festa at Thorp Arch.

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