The Leeds Fans United supporters group said that it has reached “an agreement in principle” to purchase club owner Massimo Cellino’s majority stake in the Championship side, according to the LONDON TIMES. The Italian, "who is appealing against a second Football League ban," met fans on Friday. Cellino confirmed "a deal could be in the offing." Cellino said, "One hundred percent I will sell to the fans, if they want to buy it and look after the club. The fans are the only asset the club has."
Leeds Fans United has "long had the aim of buying a minority stake in the club and securing representation on the board," and Friday developments "put it nearer to achieving that goal," although with Cellino thought to have invested up to £30M in the club, it is "unlikely that the supporters would be able to raise enough to buy out the owner’s majority share." Many Leeds fans "voiced their opposition to Cellino" during the club’s 2-0 league defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers on Thursday. The day before, Cellino "lodged an appeal against his latest Football League ban" (
LONDON TIMES, 10/31).
