Leeds supporters were naturally infuriated after another crazy day at Elland Road.
After news broke yesterday that Leeds United have suspended assistant manager Steve Thompson, fans of the Yorkshire side were once again mystified as to why their club is being dragged through the news for all the wrong reasons.
It was Sporting Director Nicola Salerno who relieved Thompson of his duties but some fans have been responding to an article on HITC Sport blaming one man: owner Massimo Cellino.
To start with – and for balance – here’s the view of a fan who doesn’t blame the Italian and is waiting for more information to come out before forming a judgement…
LeedsLover says: ‘Firstly, no one has any evidence or facts that Cellino was involved, it’s pure speculation.
‘Secondly, without Thommo Redders was clueless and useless on his own, he isn’t coach/manager material.
‘Thirdly, while most fans are emotionally up in arms, that’s exactly what is being expressed, emotions, to the point some use it to fuel their own dislike of Cellino, yet you can’t see what’s in front of you.
‘We don’t know the facts yet, pointing fingers may come back and bite you on your proverbial.’
A fair comment – it was Salerno who carried the action out. But still issues remain. For whatever reason Thompson was suspended – even if it turns out to be a totally legitimate one where the Leeds assistant was in the wrong – the manner in which it was done was another scar on the Elland Road outfit’s checkered recent history.
Why go behind Redfearn’s back? Why not tell him? Why leave him in the ridiculous position of having to answer questions about something he knows nothing of at a public press conference?
Naturally, the conspiracy theorists have had plenty to say – but also a majority of Leeds fans who have simply had enough of the frankly weird goings on at the club. Here’s what some supporters have had to say on the HITC Sport pages – echoing a much wider debate going on across Twitter and other forums right now:
Nico Loco says: ‘What the **** is going on again, its a very disapppointning decision. Were never get promoted if not something drastic positive sonn happens. Cellino out..’
Nickie Illingworth says: ‘What the hell are they playing at now!!!! Redders & Thommo have been great together & it shows in the results, it’s soul destroying for the coach, staff & supporters. Something is going on!!!!!!!! Maybe Russell Crow should buy the club after all. It’s a bloody shambles.’
Mick says: ‘Get the italian out now he is a complete nutter, i am sick and tired of the club being a laughing stock, he was supposed to buy the ground last november, its all lies, now redfern could walk along with the kids hes brought through then its back to square one. The fl are right he is not fit enough to run our club only the fans now can make this happen.’
FRED (in response to Mick) says: ‘I totally agree with you. I am absolutely furious and totally disgusted with Cellino and his cronies, who in my view have suspended Thompson, just to provoke Neil Redfearn into leaving.
‘Now that Leeds are safe from relegation, I have a strange feeling that Cellino is wanting to dump the talented Thompson and Redfearn and bring in another puppet coach, who will probably be from that “Pub Team League”, called Serie B.
‘Cellino and his cronies are totally out of their depth at a big club like Leeds and they know absolutely NOTHING about Championship football, which has to be the toughest league in the world to play in.
‘If it wasn’t for Redfearn and Thompson, Leeds would now be rooted to the bottom of the Championship and probably be relegated already, because Cellinos choice in Hockaday and then that master tactician Darko Nobody, were both total disasters as coaches at Leeds and totally uninspiring to the Leeds players, who have always wanted Redfearn as Coach.
‘I hope that Neil Redfearn bites the bullet and stays and hopefully Russell Crowe will buy out the hugely unpopular Cellino.’
Popeye says: ‘I’ve never been accused of paranoia, but there is something fundamentaly rotten at this club. How on earth can a club, one of the greatest, one of the most feared , one at the very pinnacle of imortality in the history of British football get to this pathetic state. Its as if there are hidden forces determined to destroy the very existence of the club.
‘The very name of Leeds United is sufficient enough on its own to carry this club upwards. We are famous in the footballing world despite all the bad publicity and with the right investment by the right people we cannot fail, so what the hell is going on for crying out loud. There must be someone out there, honest, above board and fit and proper with the money who can get us out of this nightmare. If we can put 30.000 bums on seats in the middle of this rediculous circus then look what we could do with a sound investor.
‘We Leeds fans have taken a lot of unjustified stick in the past, and when you see the antics of fans at some other clubs we must have the patience of saints.
‘I do not believe Cellino will return and would not blame Redders if he walked out. I am also convinced that the club is going to be torn apart at the end of the season and everything positive that has been done will be undone. Paranoid? You tell me.’
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