Russell Crowe drops plans to front Leeds United takeover

Hollywood actor Russell Crowe appears to have dropped any plans to front a buy-out of Leeds United after making several announcements via Twitter today.
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Leeds United

The lifelong Leeds United fan said he had looked into the possibility of a takeover but could not “steal any more time from my children.”

In a succession of Tweets after being asked by a fan if he had used the club to promote his latest film, the Oscar-winning actor said: “These are my discoveries, my musings and my personal truth.

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“I stand by my belief that LUFC is a massive opportunity. When my trusted associates tested the idea, we found lots of potential.

“I’m 51, I answered questions on a topic, a passion. I did not create the agenda.

“As you may well know, in 2006 I took over the 1908-formed South Sydney rugby league team. Nine years of hard yakka later, we broke a 43-year drought and won!

“So I know what it takes. I’ve been through it, I look at the mighty Leeds opportunity and I evaluate it through the time stolen from my kids.

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“Without my hands on the wheel in Leeds, I can’t guarantee my investors a return.”

Rumours linking Crowe to a buy-out of current United owner Massimo Cellino surfaced earlier this year while the Australian was in the UK promoting his film, the Water Diviner.

Crowe, who along with billionaire businessman James Packer has brought huge success to rugby league club the South Sydney Rabbitohs, spoke openly about his passion for Leeds and engaged in dialogue with Leeds Fans United, the supporters group which is trying to buy a shareholding in the Championship side.

Speaking in March - at a time when Cellino was banned from running Leeds by the Football League and potentially open to offers for the club - Crowe told the BBC: “I love the club. I want nothing but success for the club. Like many Leeds fans, probably 99.9 per cent, I’m getting a little impatient.

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“I own a rugby league team in Australia who, again, are my childhood team. They were a champion team when they were younger and they’d fallen into a state of disarray. They were perennial losers.

“So I know that when it comes to sport it’s not necessarily about money. It’s about culture. I’ve learned a lot.”