This writer predicted at the beginning of last season that Massimo Cellini wouldn't see out the campaign as Leeds chairman and would instead return home to become prime minister of Italy.
While Cellino's future at Elland Road is now in doubt, it still must be acknowledged that he did cling on there last season. Rather remarkably, his Leeds United team, under the leadership of Gary Monk is now making a serious fist of challenging for promotion.
But even if Cellino departs, English football will not be devoid of eccentric Italians.
Grand old Leyton Orient are owned by club president Francesco Becchetti and run with the help of chief executive Alessandro Angelieri.
The new regime took over in 2014 with Leyton Orient challenging for promotion from League 1. Since then, they have guided them steadily but surely down the bottom of League 2.
President Becchetti (pictured above) has a well earned reputation for being a wide-boy. In 2014, he sought to turn the club into a reality show for Italian TV. The players were understandably sheepish.
Naturally, the reign has sparked protests.
Responding to the criticism, the chief executive. the aforementioned Mr. Angelieri, has composed a statement defending the reign of his boss.
Not too hot on the English language-front, Mr. Angelieri enlisted help in putting the statement together.
From Google Translate, it would appear.
The actions of the club over the past two and a half years have always been in good faith and that can never be doubted.
A squad without future was inherited, and has been completely renewed with it today including a number of talents aged between 17 and 24.
Mr Becchetti did not like the fan protests because at the beginning of the season everyone, supporters included, praised the club for their summer transfer business.
Thereafter Mr Becchetti doesn’t play on Saturday.
I think that within common sense, Mr Becchetti will continue to fund the club, though appropriate offers for the club will be considered.
One offer has been received, but it was not acceptable for a number of reasons.
Angelieri continued. While Mr. Becchetti has been doing a bang-up job, the players have been letting down both themselves and everybody else.
In regards to player departures, since last February Jay Simpson had scored six goals, and from last summer he had been trying to leave the club.
Andy Edwards (the club’s current manager) rightly decided to leave him out of the squad because of his lack of commitment to Leyton Orient.
Jordan Bowery’s contribution during the first half of the season was imperceptible, so his departure can be considered neutral, while Alan Dunne was out of the plans under both (former manager) Andy Hessenthaler and Andy Edwards.
Most impressively, Mr. Angelieri said the club needed more Mr. Becchetti around the place if things are to pick up. The Leyton Orient players were so entranced by his charisma that they are diminished in some way if he is not around.
I think that my absence due to ill health could have had some negative effect, but I believe even further that the absence of Mr Becchetti during the last three months has had a more negative impact on the squad.
His personal business did not allow him to be close to the team, when he would usually come to the training ground every Friday and to the games on a Saturday.
Mr Becchetti has a great charisma and the players definitely feel his absence.
We are fully confident that we will remain in the Football League come the end of the season but if relegation was to unfortunately happen we will keep our current policy in place of promoting and showing faith in young players.
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