A banner calling on Massimo Cellino to leave Leeds United is due to fly over Elland Road this afternoon on a day of protest against the club’s controversial owner.
The anger towards Cellino intensified on Thursday when it emerged his two sons Ercole and Edoardo, who are both directors of the club, were involved in foul-mouthed exchanges with Leeds fans on social media.
Ercole called one woman a “whale” while Edoardo branded another fan a “moron” and a “spastic” during a row which is set to be investigated by the FA. Time To Go Massimo, the protest organisation, will fly the banner — weather permitting — and before kick-off a white coffin will be carried up to the Billy Bremner statue outside the stadium to signify what the group see as the impending death of the club.
Protest banners will be driven around the city centre before the Sky Bet Championship match against Bolton Wanderers.
“We have wasted the last two years underachieving, frittering away as Football League also-rans. Our belief is that this depressing, inexcusable march of mediocrity has to stop, and in order to achieve that, Massimo Cellino must go,” a statement from the group read.
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Cellino angered supporters in December by imposing “pie tax”, increasing ticket prices in Elland Road’s South Stand in exchange for food and drink vouchers in a bid to stop fans buying beer outside the ground.