Ross McCormack
McCormack joins Fulham in an £10.75m deal.

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has slammed Ross McCormack's attitude after selling the Scotland international to Fulham.

McCormack has been seeking a move away from Elland Road since uncertainty over the future of Brian McDermott was began in January. McDermott was eventually sacked at the end of the Championship season after achieving a 15<sup>th-place finish this season.

The 27 year old eventually secured his switch away from Leeds earlier this month after joining newly relegated Fulham for a fee approaching £11m, and Cellino has taken aim at the forward for his attitude during the final months of his career in west Yorkshire.

"I didn't want to sell McCormack because for me, he was the best player we had," the Leeds owner said.

"I was hoping to keep a player who guaranteed us at least 15 goals and McCormack would do it. I'm very unhappy because McCormack decided to go for another experience.

"He tried to walk away in January to Cardiff and was already sold for £2m but I turned it down.

"He wanted to go away for a lot of reasons he told me, his kids, his wife. He had just signed a three-year contract and he was happy with the wages and it was good wages.

"But they offered him better wages and like I told you, I was not happy to sell. I said 'OK if you want him, give me £10m.' I said it because I was sure no one would offer it, so it was a good excuse."

"When it came to pre-season McCormack did not come because he said he was feeling sick," he added.

"There was a problem with his family and I was really disappointed. In his mind he was already gone.

"And then I worked a lot on a long deal and we closed McCormack for £10.75m

"That is important money for the club. But, it was not in our budget to sell. I didn't like that another side from the Championship came to take our best player. If it was a side from the Premier League I wouldn't mind."

Leeds are expected to reinvest that money into the first team which Cellino has said can achieve a return to the Premier League this season for the first time since 2004.

New Leeds boss David Hockaday has already made five new additions but is keen to make further singings to bolster the club's promotion bid.

Speaking following the 2-0 friendly win over Guiseley, the manager told Sky Sports: "I'll take with the president [Cellino] and we've identified one or two areas but if I've got what I've got then I am happy because they're a great group of lads. If we can add to with quality in the right areas then we'll look to do that."