Fans question timing of Cellino's Football League ban

Massimo Cellino has vowed to appeal against the football League's decision to bar him from running Leeds United.

The Italian businesman branded the League's announcment that he had failed its Owners and Directors' Test as a " bad decision" and said only the lawyers would benefit.

A Leeds fans group has urged the Football League and club president Massimo Cellino "not to engage in endless legal struggles" after the Italian was disqualified from being owner.

The League announced on Monday that Cellino has failed its 'Owners and Directors' Test' after finally obtaining the full written report from the Italian judge who convicted him of tax evasion in March.

Judge Sandra Lepore concluded Cellino had acted dishonestly when failing to pay import duty on his yacht and the League has ruled Cellino must resign from his position immediately. He has 14 days to lodge an appeal.

The 58-year-old will be entitled to return to the club on March 18 next year when the conviction is spent under UK law.

Leeds United Supporters Trust said in a statement:

The League initially attempted to block Cellino's takeover of Leeds after his tax conviction in April, but the Italian successfully appealed.

Leeds United have issued a statement on their website regarding the announcement by the Football League.

It said: 'We have today received a notice from the Football League disqualifying Mr Cellino from being a director of Leeds United Football Club until 18 March 2015.

The club is in the process of taking legal advice on the reasoning of the decision. In the interim, the club notes that nothing has changed since the decision of the Football League's Professional Conduct Committee in April 2014.

The steps that the League wishes the club to take - to remove Mr Cellino only to re-appoint him in three months' time - will be destabilising for the club, its supporters and sponsors and cannot be in the best interests of any party.'

The Football League has said that Cellino must resign immediately and has 14 days to lodge an appeal.

Should the decision to disqualify Cellino be upheld, the sanction applies until March 18 of next year when under UK law the conviction is deemed to be spent.

The Football League said in a statement: "At a meeting last week, the board considered the reasoned judgement of the Italian court against Mr Cellino having successfully applied to the Italian courts for its full disclosure.

The board considered detailed legal advice and agreed unanimously that Mr Cellino is subject to a disqualifying condition under terms of the Owners' and Directors' Test."

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino could be forced to sell the club after the Football League announced the Italian has failed its Owners' and Directors' Test.

Cellino successfully appealed against the League's decision to block his takeover of Leeds in April, but after receiving the detailed evidence from the Italian court that convicted him of tax evasion, the governing body has ruled the 58-year-old is not fit to continue as the club's president.

The League's board of directors agreed unanimously at a meeting last week, after finally receiving the Italian judge's written report on Cellino's conviction for failing to pay tax on his yacht, that Cellino is "subject to a disqualifying condition under the terms of the Test".

The League confirmed that Cellino is entitled to appeal in the next 14 days.