Leeds United
Cellino's takeover at Leeds comes under fresh criticism from his other club.

Massimo Cellino has been criticised for abandoning his responsibilities at Serie A club Cagliari in order to focus his attention on Leeds United.

The Italian businessman completed his takeover on Monday after agreeing a deal to buy a 75% stake in the Yorkshire club through his company Elenora Sports after his initial attempts were blocked by the Football League.

The 57-year-old won his appeal against the ruling to take control of the Championship club and immediately announced that manager Brian McDermott would be given time to turn things around at Elland Road despite's the club's dire form that has seen them record five straight defeats.

Cellino's decision to immerse himself in the day to day workings of Leeds United has drawn criticism from former Cagliari goalkeeper Mario Ielpo. The Italian owner is still looking to offload the Serie A club but has been accused of neglecting the struggling Italian outfit in favour of his new project in England.

"It is a really hard time, there is so much confusion. The team are now likely to fall into the fight against relegation," Ielpo told Tutto Mercato.

"There's the stadium (Cagliari's dated Stadio Sant'Elia), the president seems more interested in Leeds than Cagliari, (he) changes the coach every two days. The situation is really bad for a team as important to Sardinia as this.

"It all depends of Cellino. I do not see the difference between Leeds and Cagliari."

Following the fiasco surrounding McDermott's future in January where the former Reading manager was informed he was sacked only to be reinstated the following day, questions remain over his long term future at the club.

A run of just one win in their last 12 games has worked to further undermine his future and further evidence of Cellino's cut throat approach to management emerged when he opted to sack Cagliari manager Diego Lopez, the 35<sup>th manager to be shown the door during his 22 year reign as owner, hours before completing his takeover at Leeds.

While Cellino has insisted he will not accept excuses should Leeds' poor form persist, he will afford McDermott more time now that off the field issues have been resolved.

"Why should I fire him to waste money? I think he has to show that he's a good manager," Cellino told Sky Sports. "I've heard he had a lot of problems with the team, with the market, but now we solve the problems.

"I hope that Brian is going to do his job good. I'm going to give him (sic) if it's good for the team."