Leeds United: Cellino delays board meeting by 24 hours

United’s chairman expected discussions among the club’s directors to take place yesterday (May 18) with a view to planning for next season but those talks were put back by 24 hours.

Head coach Steve Evans and the club’s supporters are waiting for Cellino to show his hand amid expectations that the Italian will move to appoint a new first-team boss again this summer.

Evans has a contract until June 30, but despite clear hints that Cellino is ready to replace him, the former Rotherham United manager has not received a decision on his fate.

Cellino implied that he would rule on Evans’ position after a board meeting today, telling the Mirror on May 8: “I’m calling a board meeting for May 18 to plan for next season. I hope to have more time to plan football issues instead of lawyers and the Football League issue.”

Cellino was freed from the threat of an imminent 223-day Football League ban last week when the Court of Appeal in Italy overturned his most recent tax conviction, but his status as United owner is under renewed threat from the Football Association after the governing body charged him and Leeds with making an illegal payment during Ross McCormack’s transfer to Fulham in 2014.

Cellino, who has been in charge at Elland Road for more than two years, said on Friday that he was considering selling the club due to the pressure on him from the authorities and sections of United’s support.

Leeds, however, are almost two weeks on from the end of the Championship season and the head coach’s position is one of a number which need attention.

United are without an academy director after Paul Hart quit that post in April and the club have no head of recruitment following Martyn Glover’s departure for Sunderland midway this season.