That’s another Fine mess he’s got us into.
First, the good news. The Daily Mail is reporting that Il Presidente is to be suspended from football for 18 months, after being found guilty of breaching FA regulations in during the transfer of Ross McCormack to Fulham in 2014. He will also be fined a £250,000.
But the bad news is that Leeds United are also likely to be fined £250,000, although at least there is no mention of any points deduction. It all relates to a payment the club made to an unlicensed agent during the negotiations for McCormack’s £10.75million transfer.
The case against Cellino was thrown into doubt last month as it hinged on evidence provided by key witness Graham Bean, who worked as a consultant for the club at the time of the McCormack transfer. Bean was dismissed shortly afterwards after a row over a re-arranged game at Reading and said "If anybody thinking of working at Leeds United under the current regime asks my advice, I’d say stay well clear. The club deserves much better.”
Bean is now secretary at Newport County and had asked for payment for his time at the hearing , but eventually provided his evidence once that was sorted out.
Invitably, Cellino isn’t going to go quietly, and it’s already reported that he’s going to launch an appeal as soon as the verdict is formally announced. We can but hope that the sale of 50 per cent of the club to Andrea Radrizzani will still go ahead, and that once the ban is confirmed Cellino will sell the other 50 percent and finally bugger off for good.