Brian McDermott
McDermott has complained of a lack of clarity of Leeds' future this season.

Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has received a vote of confidence from owner Massimo Cellino following a run of one win in 11 games but has been warned by the Italian businessman that excuses will not be accepted now his takeover is complete at Elland Road.

The Football League's attempts to block Cellino's takeover were overturned over the weekend, bringing an end to months of uncertainty since the 57 year old initially purchased 75% of the club's shares from Gulf Finance House Capital.

McDermott has continually attributed Leeds' disastrous recent form, including four successive defeats which has plunged the club into the bottom half of the Championship, to both uncertainty over the club's future and delay of paying player wages.

But with Cellino now installed as majority owner in west Yorkshire, the Cagliari chief is refusing to accept McDermott's excuses even though he pledges to give the Leeds boss time.

"Why should I fire him to waste money? I think he has to show that he's a good manager," Cellino told Sky Sports News.

"I've heard he had a lot of problems with the team, with the market, but now we solve the problems.

"We're going to pay the wages, he's got a chairman - Massimo Cellino representing an Italian company. It's not a ghost bank or a ghost company in Saudi Arabia or wherever else. So that's it.

"I heard before every game how 'we've got a problem, there's no company, we don't have a chairman...' Okay, let's play now, let's see tomorrow, let's start a new game.

"I hope that Brian is going to do his job good. I'm going to give him (sic) if it's good for the team."

Leeds were within touching distance of the top six at the turn of the year but a run of just three wins in 2014 have derailed their play-off pursuit and hopes of returning to the top flight for the first time since 2004.

Cellino is also optimistic Leeds can return to the Premier League in time for the 2015/16 season: "I don't want to make promises I can't keep and I admit it will be difficult to get promotion next season. But in 2015-16 we will earn our way back to the Premier League, which is where Leeds belong."