Leeds chairman Andrew Umbers has insisted the club is not for sale after actor Russell Crowe prompted speculation he may be ready to make a bid.
Crowe caused a stir among Leeds fans on Wednesday when he asked his 1.6 million Twitter followers whether or not he should buy the club.
That prompted more than a thousand retweets with numerous hopeful and positive responses.
But Umbers was quick to quell any talk of a takeover.
“The club is not for sale, nor do the Cellino family wish to sell and nor have we received any approaches contrary to reports in the press today,” Umbers said.
SFA wants longer ban for Simonsen
The Scottish Football Association is seeking further punishment for Rangers goalkeeper Steve Simonsen’s betting offences.
Simonsen served a one-game ban this month after admitting breaking the SFA’s zero tolerance rules by betting on a total of 50 games in a year.
The 35-year-old had not bet on any games relating to his club’s competitions and was given a one-match ban with another suspended.
But now SFA compliance officer Tony McGlennan has challenged that decision.
A statement said: “An appellate tribunal will convene in due course to consider the appeal on the basis that the sanction imposed was unduly lenient.”
World War II bomb near stadium
An unexploded World War II bomb was found near Borussia Dortmund’s stadium yesterday, forcing the Bundesliga club to shut down some of their operations.
The British bomb was found at a parking area near the west tribune of the Signal Iduna Park hours before coach Juergen Klopp’s news conference ahead of the Ruhr valley derby against Schalke 04 tomorrow.
Efforts to defuse the bomb and render it safe would started in the afternoon.
“It is not yet known how long the stadium area will remain off limits,” Dortmund said.
Flores announces surprise resignation
Getafe coach Quique Sanchez Flores unexpectedly quit the La Liga club yesterday citing ‘personal reasons’ about which he did not elaborate.
“I want to communicate to you my decision today to stand down as Getafe coach,” Sanchez Flores was quoted as saying in Spanish media.
“It is a personal decision, the product of deep reflection which will allow me to avoid situations which at the time did not make me happy,” he added.
Getafe are 13th in La Liga, four points above the relegation zone.
Pirlo out for three weeks – Sky Italia
Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo will be out for three weeks after suffering a right calf muscle strain, Sky Italia reported.
The 35-year-old went off injured in the 37th minute of Juve’s 2-1 Champions League last 16, first leg victory over Borussia Dortmund in Turin on Tuesday.
Pirlo will miss the return against Dortmund on March 18 as Juventus try to qualify for the quarter-finals for the first time since 2006.
The Italian international will also be forced to sit out Serie A games against second-placed Roma, Sassuolo and Palermo as well as the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final against Fiorentina.
Nani ‘open to Man. United return’
Nani has opened the door to a possible return to Manchester United after admitting he still “loves” the club and is in regular contact with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
United sent Nani on a season-long loan to Sporting Lisbon as part of the deal that brought Marcos Rojo to Old Trafford last summer.
The winger revealed Woodward has been in touch to congratulate him on his good form and the midfielder appears open to the possibility of staying at United once his loan at Sporting expires.
“I love Manchester United,” the Portuguese said.
“The only decision I made (last summer) was to play more and be me again, because I lost a lot of things there last season due to injuries and the change of manager.
“It depends on a lot of things. If United want me to stay then with a different mentality I think we can work well next season.”
Noble lands new Hammers deal
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble has signed a new long-term contract, the Premier League side said.
The 27-year-old vice-captain has put pen to paper on a deal which will tie him to the club until the summer of 2020.
“I’m obviously over the moon because it takes me until I’m 33!” Noble said .
“I’m very happy with the contract and very grateful to the chairmen for giving me it and I’m looking forward to the next five years.”