LONDON, Feb 1 — Leeds United will be taken over by Massimo Cellino after the Championship club's owners confirmed they have agreed to sell a majority stake to the controversial Italian today.

Following a turbulent week at Elland Road which included the sacking of manager Brian McDermott yesterday, owners Gulf Finance House (GFH) released a statement confirming they had agreed a 75 per cent sale to Cellino's company, Eleonora Sport Ltd, subject to Football League approval.

Cellino had angered fans by axing the popular McDermott and reportedly attempting to install his long-term friend Gianluca Festa, the former Middlesbrough defender, as the club's new boss.

The GFH statement read: “Following recent media reports and speculation, GFH Capital would like to confirm that it has agreed to sell a 75 per cent stake in the club to Eleonora Sport Ltd, a company owned by the Cellino family who have many years' experience in football and who plan to invest substantially in the club including the re-acquisition of Elland Road.

“Eleonora will be working on completing the required Football League approval.

“The Cellino family is a well known Italian sports family, who have owned Serie A side Cagliari since 1992. They come to English football with an ambition to support Leeds United financially to take it to the Premier League and a belief that the club can sustain top-flight status.

“Since the agreement, Leeds United is in discussion with Eleonora Sport Ltd on a number of issues concerning club matters, including the structure of the management of the first team.”

The management issue was thrust into the spotlight when McDermott was removed by Cellino before news of his accepted bid had been confirmed.

McDermott is understood to have paid the price for refusing to allow Festa to sit in the dugout with him against Ipswich on Tuesday, while he was also told yesterday that he would be getting a number of Italian signings.

Festa was set to take charge for Saturday's home game against Huddersfield along with academy coach Neil Redfearn, but McDermott's assistant Nigel Gibbs arrived at Elland Road and it was understood he and Redfearn would manage the Leeds side, with Festa's involvement remaining unclear.

However in another twist, it was claimed the club were still working on persuading McDermott to return to the dugout. — AFP