LEEDS, England (AP) - Fallen English power Leeds has fired manager Brian McDermott in the wake of a takeover of the second-tier English club by Italian businessman Massimo Cellino.
McDermott left the club late Friday, 13 months into a three-year contract, with Cellino saying the coach had been “very understanding of my wish to implement a new structure.”
Leeds finished 15th in the 24-team League Championship at the end of a difficult season marred by takeover speculation. The team, which hasn’t been in the Premier League since 2004, won the English top-flight title in 1992 and reached the Champions League semifinals in 2001 before falling into financial difficulties.
McDermott says he respected Cellino’s desire to “bring a new energy to the club” so it can get back to “fighting for trophies and competing at the top table of English and European football.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.