Only yesterday the Yorkshire Post were reporting that Nicola Salerno had resigned as Leeds United’s sporting director, but today there are claims from Italy that he is only on holiday!
There has been no official word from the club about Salerno’s situation, but there had been reports from Italy that Sicilian club Palermo want him to as their new sporting director. The Italian has also had to face a backlash from fans over the suspension of Steve Thompson, allegedly because Thompson was disrespectful towards him before the game at Fulham last month.
The Post quoted Massimo Cellino as confirming Salerno’s resignation, even though Cellino is supposed to have no influence over the club’s affairs until the end of the season. "He resigned. I’m not there so I don’t know why. I wanted him to stay and speak about it first when I got back to Leeds but he made the decision. This is the situation.”
Yet today Italian journalist Emanuele Giulianelli told Radio Yorkshire "I spoke with Salerno, Nicola Salerno is still sporting director of Leeds United. He didn't resign at all. Now he is in Italy, but just because it was the Easter holidays. He told me, oh, I am surprised by it. I am still the sporting director of Leeds United until I receive any communication (otherwise). He didn't resign this is 100%."
It would be a bit odd if Salerno thought that a role as sporting director didn’t involve attending the two matches Leeds played over the Easter weekend, but according to Giulianelli he is still keen to make a success of his role at the club. "He is disappointed what is happening with Massimo Cellino. He is very determined to go on if Massimo Cellino wants him to remain sporting director."
So we have yet another strange day in the ongoing farce that Leeds United has become. There will be many fans who will hope that Salerno really has resigned, as his suspension of Thompson has only served to destabilise the club just when things were starting to turn round on the field. But who knows what is really going on behind the scenes.