Now Massimo Cellino has learnt how popular Brian Mc.Dermott is with the Leeds fans he has changed his mind and wants to work with him, not least because they both play the guitar!
The Italian met the Leeds manager for the first time earlier this week for a clear-the-air meeting and today was quoted by the ever-reliable Sun as saying "There was a lot of misunderstanding early on and we've put that behind us. Brian has a big heart and gives 100 per cent, we get on well.”
The "misunderstanding” was of course the crazy Friday night when Cellino sacked McDermott before he had authority to do so, prompting furious Leeds fans to chase his taxi out of Elland Road and demonstrate at the game the following day. Now that Mc.Dermott has been restored by the current owners Cellino is keen to be mates with him after all.
And he even wants to give the manager guitar lessons! "He loves the guitar and I want to help him get even better. I'm getting two guitars sent over for him from Cagliari. Maybe we could even play a concert at Elland Road one day. I love music. I have been lucky to play with Deep Purple, the Scorpions, Cream, Clapton and even George Harrison."
I’d love to see who else will be in the band for this concert. Ross McCormack is the obvious choice for lead singer, now that he’s the new captain and clearly likes to lead from the front. And I’d put Paddy Kenny on drums, if only because we can rely on him to organise a few Keith Moon style hell-raising antics at the after-show party. It'll be a bit different to having Rod Stewart playing Elland Road.
Just one question remains. Will Cellino still want to sign players and pick the team and sign players himself, as we was known to do at Cagliari, or will he be content to stop meddling and allow Brian McDermott to manage? Will Cellino be the lead guitar in this relationship and expect merely McDermott to support him on bass guitar, or is the Italian content to be the in rhythm section while the manager calls the tune?