Chaos at Leeds as Cellino gets 18-month ban from Football League after Evans appointment

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has been banned for 18 months by the Football League

LEEDS endured another day of chaos and farce when owner Massimo Cellino appointed his sixth manager in 18 months and was then banned by the Football League.

 

Cellino sacked Uwe Rosler after Saturday's defeat to Brighton and immediately appointed former Rotherham boss Steve Evans, whom he had previously confessed to hating.

But his own position is once again under scrutiny after he was disqualified by the League for failing an owners' and directors' test following a legal probe into a conviction for tax evasion in his native Italy.

The twists and turns that have sadly become par for the course at the once-proud Yorkshire club began when Rosler had not one, but two, surprises as he gathered Leeds players together at Thorp Arch yesterday morning.

Rosler called for the squad's attention, informed them he had been sacked and, it is understood, then added: "In 15 minutes, Steve Evans will walk through that door."

Evans duly arrived to take training and was later confirmed as Cellino's sixth manager since April 2014. Only in the crazy world of Leeds can the outgoing manager be the one who announces his successor.

The question now is how long Evans will last before Cellino decides he is not the right man and dispenses with his services.

Cellino immediately replaced Rosler with Steve Evans - his sixth manager in 18 months

Brian McDermott departed soon after Cellino officially took over before Dave Hockaday and Darko Milanic lasted six games each. Neil Redfearn, whose spell of 37 matches in charge entitles him to a long-service medal, was next to go before Rosler's appointment back in May.

Rosler's departure after just 12 games, with Leeds marooned in 18th place in the Championship and without a win at Elland Road under him, is not the biggest surprise given Cellino's penchant for firing managers.

And at least Evans, who left Rotherham last month, appears to know what he has let himself in for after hopping into the hottest of managerial hot-seats.

"If you take the job under Massimo, you know the rules; he picks the players, you coach the players," said Evans in an interview last year before praising Cellino for his investment in the club.

His first match will be away at Fulham tomorrow and yesterday he said: "I'm humbled and honoured to manage this giant of a club.

Rosler announced his sacking to the players himself before stating that Evans will take over

"Someone has got to get it right here. Why not me? I have won a lot of football matches.

"If I fail I become a statistic but I will put my life into the Leeds job."

For his part, Cellino has admitted to hating Evans initially if only because he has forged teams who have previously been difficult opponents.

"I used to hate him because he is a fighter," he said. "I didn't like playing against him because he gives his teams his personality.

"He's a tough coach and I want that character in our team. He manages with passion and our team has not been playing with passion.

"I wanted them to play heavy rock-football, but instead it was like Country music.

  

"I did my best to help Uwe, but in the end, I could not see even a patch of blue in the sky, just cloud, cloud and cloud."

His comments came before the League passed judgment on his conviction in June for failing to pay VAT on the importation of a Land Rover. He was fined 40,000 euros (£28,000) then.

"The decision of the Italian Court constitutes a disqualifying condition under the owners' and directors' test," read a League statement. "Mr Cellino has until October 28 to appeal."

Cellino had previously failed the test for another tax offence, this time on a yacht, and was disqualified from having any executive influence at Leeds between last December and the end of last season.

The latest twist in the soap opera at Leeds comes with Swindon Town chairman Lee Power putting himself in temporary charge following the sacking of Mark Cooper on Saturday.

"I know people will see the chairman taking over and think, 'What is going on down there?', but I played for 12 years in every division there is in England and up in Scotland," said Power.