Leeds United's controversial owner Massimo Cellino has confirmed that Nicola Salerno has left his role as the club's sporting director.

The move has heaped more misery and confusion on the West Yorkshire outfit after Neil Redfearn's assistant Steve Thompson was suspended in regards to an 'internal issue' less than a week ago.

Cellino, who is currently banned from the club until May 4 pertaining to tax evasion in his home country of Italy, told the Yorkshire Post that Salerno had departed Elland Road but wasn't completely sure of the reasons.

"He resigned. I'm not there so I don't know why," he said.

"I wanted him to stay and speak about it first when I got back to Leeds but he made the decision. This is the situation."

Salerno arrived at Leeds last summer after Cellino took over the Championship club in March last year.