Hope and Pray Cellino Gets The Green Light..

On the eve of the decision that will colour the future of Leeds one way or another, I have come to the conclusion that almost without reservation, I want Massimo Cellino in charge of Leeds.

That’s an about turn I know from someone who was very anti Cellino from that Mad Friday at the end of January until really quite recently. Until this point I haven’t even uttered his name, referring to him only as the Criminal.

Like most fans, I’ve been  watching and listening to Cellino since that day. Not that there have been huge opportunities to do so, despite his perceived persona he hasn't been all over the press but based on what we do know  I say, it’s time to draw a line under things and judge the man on his actions since that outrageous day.

What we have seen is a man with passion. A man who has developed a real love for this club. One willing to put his own money into the club with no guarantee of ever seeing it again (knowing how the club were / are heading to oblivion), a man who has (on a limited basis) engaged with fans. A man who it seems recognises what a shyster David Haigh is, what “scumbags” GFH are, and isn't afraid to say so.

OK we haven’t been short of rent a gob chairmen or owners in the past, nor short of crooks feeding off our dying corpse, but doesn't this one feel different? Didn't you feel that if you ever shook hands with Bates that you might not necessarily get all five fingers back? With Massimo you probably will but those fingers will be covered in hair gel… Yes Massimo has been convicted (and it seems has a few more potential court dates in his diary) but genuinely does that really matter to us? The only difference between him and ‘certain other people’ around our club is that he got caught.

There is no dying corpse here, its dead and most of the meat has been scavenged by GFH. The only bit of meat left is Ross McCormack and Cellino alleges Ross was going after GFH pushed, but he stopped the transfer.. after all as he said, “you don’t sell the fridge to buy the beer! Whilst we might be disappointed in the news that he wanted away a) who could have blamed him on that Mad Friday and b) who could complain about the effort he has put in since, never mind the goals.

El Diablo..

Cellino can now only make any money from Leeds United (and lets be brutally honest here, everyone buys a club to make money) by pumping money into the club, buying the ground – finally - clearing out deadwood. In his WhiteLeedsRadio chat, he is clear on some of the ridiculous wages being paid to players in the worst team he has ever seen. The wage bill at £18m is clearly too high for a club where we are, though I am cautious at Cellinos stated desire to reduce that to £10m. Whether that gives us enough to really go forward is arguable. It certainly would provide one of the lowest ratios of wages to turnover currently in our league. Whether that turnover might reduce short term seems locked in his comments repeated several times that fans are paying too much at Leeds, those wonderful fans pay too much and we ask them in April to pay for next year when so much is not known” This explains the failure of renewal letters going out and is a bold move, once that was at odds with GFH. Its this that prompted the payments by Cellino, to cover this shortfall.

At the risk of repeating oft quoted word, there is huge potential at Elland Road, turn over can very rapidly increase and presumably the ratio to wages within reason. You see as Leeds fans we are often misunderstood and misrepresented, we do not crave success, we crave effort and hard work. We want our players to give there all, and then that bit more. The evidence was there for all to see with hero’s welcome to Elland Road last week of Vinnie Jones. Never the greatest player to wear the shirt, not even in the top  100 probably, but a player who gave heart and soul for the club every time he crossed that line, he lived and breathed blood, he engaged with the fans and immersed himself in us. That should have been his message to players in the dressing room – give everything, and you too can be loved. Yes even you Rudy Austin.

So with the club being devoid of options, and much as I would like to see myself proved wrong I do not believe Farnan and co are any credible answer. Hoping to get the club at a knockdown price – don’t get me wrong I would love to see GFH on the wrong end of a fire sale. They might muster sufficient funds to get the club…but the ground…the players we need.. is there fire in their belly…are they too nice? Are they in bed with David Haigh, god forbid even cuddly Ken. … Heart in right places but deep enough pockets?

But thanks to GFH gross incompetence in handling this takeover, to my mind it verges on bringing football and Leeds United into disrepute, Farnan remains no option. Denying a place at the table when their own dossier highlighted the chances of Cellino failing…is rank stupidity of the highest order. Should the decision go against Massimo tomorrow then where do we go….and who will turn the lights off..

So for all this, still slightly guarded but I hope and pray that Cellino gets the green light…only then can we have some confidence that our club remains, only then can we begin to move forward.