Russell Crowe: 'should I buy Leeds Utd?'
Troubled Championship club Leeds could do with Russell Crowe's cash – but doubts remain
He's best known for being a Hollywood hardman, garlanded with awards for roles in films such as Gladiator, Cinderella Man and Robin Hood, but might Russell Crowe soon be the new owner of Leeds United FC?
The Oscar-winning actor has mooted the idea of buying the struggling Championship club – they lie 14th in the table – taking to Twitter to ask his 1.68 million followers: "Anybody else think this is a good idea?"
Crowe has been a Leeds fan since his childhood, adopting the West Yorkshire side as his own during their glory days in the early 1970s under Don Revie. Growing up in Sydney, 50-year-old Crowe cheered on the team while watching Match of the Day, and his love for the club remains undimmed.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
His fondness for sport is well-documented. The cousin of former New Zealand cricket captain
Martin Crowe, the star is a co-owner of Australian rugby league club South Sydney Rabbitohs. But investing in Leeds would present far more of a challenge to the actor, given the club's recent troubled history.
The current owner of Leeds is Massimo Cellino, whose Eleonora Sport Limited company bought the club in April last year. But the Italian tycoon was disqualified in January from involvement with Leeds until 10 April after failing the Football League's "fit and proper person test".
BBC Sport reports that Cellino – who was found guilty of tax evasion in an Italian court last year – has "announced he will not return to the club when his Football League ban ends".
That news prompted Crowe's tweet and, although he has received what the BBC describes as an "overwhelmingly positive" reaction from fans, the Leeds United Supporters' Trust was more circumspect.
Responding to Crowe's declaration that what the club needs is "one voice that sets the tone…every thought and every decision has to be about success on the field", the trust's chairman, Paul Keat, told BBC Radio 5 live: "If he is serious, let him come forward. But whether he has the time and resources has yet to be determined."
Keat suggested that Crowe might not have the financial means to buy the club outright but that he could get involved "as part of a consortium". But regardless of whether he backs up his words with his wealth, Crowe was invited by Keat to come and watch a match at Elland Road. "He is more than welcome," he said. "I will even buy him a pint."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Just 31% of Americans have a positive view of the healthcare industry, according to Gallup
Talking Point Accused killer Luigi Mangione has been hailed online by Americans frustrated with their broken health insurance system
By The Week UK Published
-
Labour's plans to redefine the green belt
The Explainer Angela Rayner's planning reforms turn green-belt areas into 'grey belt' house-building zones, and campaigners are voicing concerns
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Saudi Arabia World Cup: have lessons been learned from Qatar?
Today's Big Question Human rights groups fear a repeat of issues at the 2022 tournament
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady
By Mike Starling Published