da apostaganha： A minority of teams that have experienced the thrill and excitement of playing in the Premier League are now plying their trade in the lower leagues of English football. Some of them because they lack the quality, but mostly because of financial constraints that has led to disappointment. The likes of Coventry City and Portsmouth immediately spring to mind.
da bwin： However, one notable club that has fallen from grace in recent years is Leeds United. They are currently battling to remain in the second tier of English football, a position they should never have been in. After suffering the financial curse which has previously seen them drop into League One, the Elland Road outfit now have to contend with a certain Italian called Massimo Cellino.
The “mad” Italian, who took over the reins at the Yorkshire club this year, has made notable changes to the club, angering fans in the process. Cellino, who formerly owned Italian outfit Cagliari, has already refused to stay at the team’s hotel because it’s purple, and reportedly released goalkeeper Paddy Kenny because his birthday is on the 17th, a number Cellino considers to be unlucky. He also hired David Hockaday, whose only previous managerial experience was with non-league side Forest Green Rovers, and sacked him after only six games in charge. Currently under a tax evasion investigation, the Italian could be forced to sell his shares in the Yorkshire if found guilty.
Many have said what is wrong with the club. However, it’s not the club itself to blame, it’s the Football League. One of the questions that has to be asked is what is the fit and proper persons test? Because it certainly doesn’t meet the criteria of Mr Cellino, so why is he the owner of this prestigious and traditional football club? The test will check a person’s background for any criminal convictions who are wishing to own 30% or more of a football club. This is intended to protect clubs not ‘fit’ or ‘proper’ to run a football club. One other problem is the Premier League and Football League test are slightly different, with the Premier League’s being stronger. Anyone who wants to own more than 10% of a football club must make the name public, whereas the Football League does not. This leaves one important factor of any football club in the dark of who owns their club; the fans.
The fans are the lifeblood of any football club, especially Leeds. Football in Yorkshire is huge and for the fans to be left unsure about what is going on with their club is unacceptable. This is a club that was in the Champions League semi-final 13 years ago with players like Mark Viduka, Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Fowler on their books. Currently looking for a manager, some former big name stars have put their name forward for the vacancy with the likes of Fowler and former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank eager for the post. Peter Risdale and Ken Bates are also previous owners that have managed to disgruntle fans in the past, and it’s time Leeds United, a club who have had legends such as Don Revie, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, Paul Reaney and Norman Hunter play and manage the club, deserve better.