A Leeds United fan has claimed that he received monthly payments from the club for posting positive messages about owner Massimo Cellino on Facebook.
Scott Gutteridge says that he received payments of around £500 a month for running a Facebook page named ‘In Massimo We Trust’, which was previously called ‘Cellino In’.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Gutteridge said: “I was approached because of my IT/website design background by an unnamed member of Leeds United to assist in the creation and running of a group called Cellino In.
“I was told I would receive a nominal payment depending on activity and contribution. It balanced out at £500 per month. The club felt that a positive influence from a small number of fans could go a long way and sponsoring this group would be worth their time.”
Gutteridge claims his services were terminated after he leaked information about the club, explaining: “I started to realise what was going on behind the scenes. This was nothing more than propaganda with the wrongdoings being covered up by the club using the Facebook group to counter arguments. Leeds is a club rotten to the core.”
But a club spokesman denies the claims, saying: “There is nothing in this. But unfortunately, because of the hysteria surrounding Leeds, groups of fans don’t believe what the club say.”
Cellino’s time at Elland Road has been filled with controversy. His erratic antics have ranged from removing all references to the number 17 from the club to introducing a ‘pie tax’ on tickets in a certain stand – and even banning Sky Sports cameras from entering the stadium.
