Former Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has delivered an explosive interview in which he moved to strongly criticise Garry Monk and his agent, James Featherstone.

Monk is once again out of work after leaving Birmingham City in what was a shock move just a few weeks ago, but it would appear that his former boss Cellino has little sympathy for Monk, as he lifted the lid on the relationship he had with Monk and controversial agent Featherstone.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Cellino was not holding back in his comments, adding:

‘I never allowed Featherstone near the club. I told Monk that he was a coach, and the players belonged to the club. I never let Monk get involved with transfers because every player he wanted to sign he wanted to do through Featherstone. Monk came to me with a player from Brentford he wanted to sign. 

'I asked him who the agent was. He said, “It doesn’t matter, I will make the transfer”. Then I found out the agent was Featherstone and they did the deal directly with him. Featherstone said he was his player, but I found out he wasn’t.

Monk's spell with Leeds only lasted a year, with the former Swansea man walking away from the club when Andrea Radrizzani claimed full control of the club from Cellino.

However, Cellino was seemingly not impressed with Monk's ways of working, as he continued to lay into his former manager.

‘After three months he brought another assistant coach, James Beattie. Then I found out that he was a client of Featherstone’s agency. After that I cut him out. 'I didn’t allow him to come to the games, I didn’t allow him to come to training. I didn’t want him at the club any more because he kept messing up.’ Cellino added.

Cellino's spell with Leeds was never short of controversy, but his insight into Monk here might well shed some light on just why Monk doesn't seem to be able to hold down jobs, especially following his shock exit from St Andrews.

The Verdict

This is an explosive interview isn't it, let's be honest!

Cellino is not holding back at all and it's really interesting to see what he has to say about Monk and his dealings.

This is the sort of thing we never really get to see in football or read much about, and it can often just go to show that fans don't always know exactly what is going on.

Cellino is not everybody's favourite person, but he's certainly lifted the lid here.