'˜Time to go, Massimo' advert removed as Leeds United threaten legal action

City Ads Yorkshire, who agreed to erect an advert paid for by a group of around 70 United fans, removed it this morning after solicitors acting for Leeds and Cellino told the firm it “clearly amounts to harassment of Mr Cellino.”

Lawyers Ward Hadaway issued a legal letter after the billboard appeared outside the entrance to Elland Road’s East Stand around lunchtime yesterday.

The 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.

The letter from Ward Hadaway said: “This poster has obviously been placed outside the entrance to Mr Cellino’s place of work so as to cause the maximum distress to our client.

“This exacerbates the quantum of harassment that is intended to be caused and is malicious.”

The letter said that despite requests from the club, City Ads Yorkshire had initially refused to remove the advert on the “grounds of freedom of speech”.