Russell Crowe rules out purchase of Leeds United

Oscar-winning actor and Leeds United fans Russell Crowe has confirmed he will not launch a takeover bid for the Elland Road club, ending months of speculation.

The Australian previously sparked rumours he was trying to buy the Championship side when he asked his 1.6m Twitter followers if he should purchase the club. The 50-year-old Gladiator star told BBC Radio 5 Live in April: "I've followed Leeds since I was a little kid. I used to come home from sport in the afternoon, me and my brother, and watch Match of the Day.

"I love the club. I want nothing but success for the club. But like many other Leeds fans – and probably in fact 99.9% – I'm getting a little impatient, you know?"

But Crowe, who already owns Australian rugby league team South Sydney Rabbitohs, has ended his interest in becoming proprietor of the club, telling his Twitter followers he wanted to spend time with his children and could therefore not guarantee a return for investors.

In a series of tweets he said:

#1 @LUFC These are my discoveries, my musings and my personal truth.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#2 I stand by my belief that LUFC is a massive opportunity. When my trusted associates tested the idea... We found multiple potential...
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#3 ... I'm 51, I answered questions on a topic, a passion...I did not create the agenda... As you may well know...
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#4 in 2006 I took over the 1908 formed South Sydney Rugby League team. 9 years of hard yakka later we broke a 43 year drought and won!!
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#5 so... I know what it takes . I've been through it, I look at the Mighty Leeds opportunity and I evaluate it through the time stolen ...
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#6 from my kids. Economics tell the folks in my organisation we could smash this, but, I know the personal toll it takes, and I know ...
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#7 without my actual hands on the wheel in Leeds I can't guarantee investors a return. I've loved Leeds all my life. I will always.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#8 I will not though steal anymore time from my children. It's that simple.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#9 think about this...there's a hundred thousand who will match on together at least, stand up Leeds ... Stand and be counted
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

#marchingontogether
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 25, 2015

The Yorkshire club is 75% owned by Eleonora Sport Limited, a subsidiary of Eleonora Immobiliare that is controlled by the controversial Cellino family, whose chief, Massimo, is chairman. He failed a fit and proper persons test in March 2014 but had the decision overturned one month later.

A Leeds United fans group thanked Crowe for his support: "We respect his decision to not take a primary role and appreciate the professional and confidential manner in which he conducted the investigation."