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Leeds owner Massimo Cellino sees ban extended from April 10 until May 3

Clive Gee/EMPICS Sport

The end date of Massimo Cellino's period of disqualification as owner of Leeds has been extended from April 10 to May 3 by the Football League.

The Italian businessman was barred by the Football League's board from being owner and a director of the Championship club in December after it ruled his conviction for tax evasion was a "dishonest act."

Cellino and Leeds were also hit by a further misconduct charge for failing to supply the Italian court judgement to the Football League when it first became available. League officials were forced to apply to the court in Cagliaria for the written reasons.

Those disciplinary proceedings have now resulted in Cellino's extended ban.

Cellino had announced on Feb. 24 he would not return to the club when his original ban ended.

A joint statement released on Thursday read: "The Football League, Leeds United and Massimo Cellino have settled the outstanding disciplinary proceedings relating to the club's non-disclosure of the Italian Court's judgment regarding Mr. Cellino, as required under League regulations.

"The club and Mr. Cellino have decided in the interests of the club, its players and supporters not to contest this charge. As a result, Mr. Cellino's period of disqualification as a 'relevant person,' as defined by the regulations, has now been extended from April 10 until May 3, the day after the conclusion of the 2014-15 league season.

"Mr Cellino's right to challenge the decision of the Professional Conduct Committee under Football Association Rule K is unaffected by this settlement."

Leeds chairman Andrew Umbers confirmed in February that Cellino had sold the minority stake he personally held in the club and in Eleonora Sport Limited, the consortium which owns the club.

Meanwhile, Umbers has said there have been no takeover approaches despite film star Russell Crowe hinting that he could be interested in buying the Championship club.

Crowe, a Leeds supporter, was asked by one of his Twitter followers whether he would be open to the idea of buying the Elland Road club, and the BBC reported that he would consider doing so if he was approached and had the backing of fans.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.