Written by Staff Writer
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino is putting the finishing touches to a redevelopment of Elland Road which he hopes will give the former English champions a bigger home advantage.
Cellino has replaced most of the Millwall supporters in the directors’ box at Elland Road with the so-called “Football-i Community Group” – made up of supporters of rivals Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves, among others.
The club’s new colours are red and black for the 2018-19 season and the owners announced in March that the club’s playing strip would also be a version of the opposition kit for the 2019-20 season.
The controversial Italian is applying the finishing touches to Elland Road’s redevelopment, which the club have admitted has held up the start of the Championship season.
The first game after the ground’s redevelopment was due to be Leeds’ home game against Hull in mid-August, but the fixture was postponed following a fan protest which descended into violence.
Cellino, however, is keen to highlight how the club are trying to unite the city with the state-of-the-art stadium.
“We are working with the police, the local authority and all the supporters to make sure the social scene at Elland Road is as peaceful as possible,” he said at a special committee meeting which was held to welcome the Football-i Group supporters.
“I had a vision and that vision needs to be put into practice, even if we have to play in our semi-final under lights. We have to keep it peaceful because it will cost a lot of money to protect the people.”
Meanwhile, the Leeds United Chairman denied that the prospect of the club being relegated from the Premier League next season had been a cause for concern.
The club have started the season with just a three point cushion at the bottom of the Championship having beaten leaders Newcastle United 3-0 last week.