Nicola Salerno has quit as Leeds United Sporting Director. Does this mean that the Italians are pulling out of Elland Road?
Salerno has been dubbed Massimo Cellino's right-hand-man after he followed Leeds' owner from Cagliari last year. His role as Sporting Director appeared to have been one of bringing in new signings; Leeds have brought in 15 new recruits mainly from the Italian League. However his mandate appeared to have been extended in the last week when Salerno sacked Assistant Coach Steve Thompson. Unbelievably the 58-year-old cited "poor performance" as the reason behind Thompson's suspension, then came rumours Thompson had insulted Salerno after the 3-0 win over Fulham. This has since been denied by sources "close to" Thompson.
Now it has been confirmed that Salerno has quit. He was absent during our two Easter defeats and rumour has been rife he is wanted by Palermo to take up the Sporting Director role there.
I doubt there will be many Leeds fans crying in their Morretti over Salerno's exit. The departure of Thompson which clearly undermined Neil Redfearn appeared to have been instigated by Salerno. His recruits have not been up to scratch and for someone to cite "poor performance" as a reason to get rid of Thompson when he brought the likes of Doukara, Bianchi and Cani to the club is ridiculous.
We can only hope that this is an indicator that Massimo Cellino is in the final furlong of his control of the club and a sale to a "fit and proper" person is imminent. The King of Corn is scheduled to return to the club on May 4th when his Football League ban expires and he is likely to receive as hostile-a-reception as he got when he arrived a year last January and fired then-boss Brian McDermott.