League Championship side Leeds United President Massimo Cellino confirmed that "he will comply with the Football League’s ruling to disqualify him as owner of the club," according to the PA. Cellino "is to appeal against the League’s decision to ban him after it ruled he had failed its owners’ and directors’ test, but the 58-year-old Italian has told his fellow directors he will stand down from the board to safeguard the club against possible further sanctions." Cellino said, “I’m prepared to resign if it’s what I have to do. ... I’m fighting this and we think we will win so after the appeal I will be back. But I don’t want to give the League a reason to punish the club. So if I have to go then I’ll go." The League ruled Cellino "must severe all ties with the club" by Dec. 29 and has until Dec. 15 to lodge an appeal. The former Cagliari owner "was convicted in Italy of failing to pay import duty on his yacht in March and successfully appealed against the League’s decision to block his takeover of the club in April." Cellino will be able to resume as club owner on March 18 "when his conviction is spent" under U.K. law. Leeds "must install a new management structure at Elland Road to satisfy the League that Cellino has no financial or executive influence on the club during his disqualification period" (PA, 12/11).
