Leeds United Supporters’ Trust has urged Massimo Cellino to consider selling his controlling stake in the club.
The Football League disqualified Cellino for the second time in less than a year on Monday following his latest tax conviction in Italy. Cellino is to appeal against his latest ban, which is understood to run until June next year.
Further criminal cases against him are still outstanding.
A LUST statement read: “The Trust believes Leeds supporters have suffered enough over the years and therefore asks Massimo Cellino he should sell and to do so with efficiency.”
Bologna linked with Montella
Struggling Serie A side Bologna, bottom of the league after one win from eight matches, are reportedly interested in replacing coach Delio Rossi with Vincenzo Montella.
Other coaches, including ex-Azzurri mentors Cesare Prandelli and Roberto Donadoni, have also been tipped to replace Rossi but La Repubblica reported that Bologna want Montella, formerly of Fiorentina, to take over.
Bologna travel to relegation rivals Carpi on Saturday where defeat would almost certainly spell the end for Rossi.
Bale criticised
Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale’s latest injury has led to heated criticism in the Spanish media that he is putting Wales ahead of his club side.
Bale has suffered a succession of injuries since joining Real in 2013 and the calf strain that saw him go off at half-time in the weekend La Liga win over Levante was the fifth time he has had a problem in the same area.
As journalist Tomas Roncero said: “It’s one thing to be unfortunate but you (Bale) made a joke of Real Madrid. You have prioritised your country over the club that pays you.”
The newspaper refers to Cristiano Ronaldo who was in a similar situation with Portugal and chose not to play against Serbia.
Hughes unhappy over replays
Stoke manager Mark Hughes criticised the showing of replays of an incident involving his goalkeeper Jack Butland on the big screen during his side’s 1-0 win at Swansea on Monday.
Butland escaped punishment for his challenge on Andre Ayew, the Stoke keeper going in studs first after he had allowed the ball to run loose. The incident was replayed three times on the big screen from different angles.
“He (Butland) had to retrieve a situation and I thought he got the ball,” Hughes said.
“There was a big shout from the home crowd as you would expect. But I didn’t appreciate the incident being shown on the videos around the stadium. I thought that was unnecessary.”
Unhappy Toure slams critics
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has expressed his disgust at those who are quick to criticise his performances and admits to being hurt by what he feels is a lack of recognition.
Last season, Toure scored 10 league goals, half his total from the previous campaign, as City failed to defend their title, finishing eight points behind champions Chelsea.
Concerning the goal-scoring exploits which helped City win the league the previous season, Toure said: “I scored 26 goals, 20 in the Premier League, and nobody mentioned it. You understand a bit my disgust.
“Here (in England), when it is bad, they stress it; when it’s good, they leave that in the dungeon. They have always used their little methods to annoy and alienate me.”
Heidel departure for Schalke on hold
Mainz president Harald Strutz has ruled out his club’s general manager Christian Heidel leaving for Schalke in the near future.
Schalke are understood to have made an approach for Heidel to replace Horst Heldt, whose contract expires next summer and is looking increasingly likely not to be offered a new deal.
It was being reported that Heidel could be in place in Gelsen-kirchen even before next summer, but that is now off the table, according to Strutz.
“There is an agreement bet-ween us and Christian Heidel that a departure in the short term is out of the question,” Strutz said after a board meeting.
“It is also something that this club could not handle right now.”
Muniain returns to action after surgery
Athletic Bilbao winger Iker Muniain has been given the medical all-clear to resume playing after undergoing knee surgery following six months out of action.
The Spain international ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in April and missed the Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in May and the Spanish Super Cup, which saw Athletic brush aside Barcelona 5-1 on aggregate in August to clinch their first trophy in 31 years.
Muniain made 25 league starts for Athletic last season and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension this summer which will keep him tied to Los Leones until June 30, 2019.