Leeds United supremo Massimo Cellino says that he has 2,000 people interested in taking the Whites off his hands, but he must receive a deposit to prove the seriousness of their potential bid, while he is also not actively looking to sell up.
Cellino has been dogged by controversy since he took control of the Yorkshire giants in 2014 and has this season made noises about selling his majority shareholding in Leeds.
He did agree in principle to sell his shares to supporter group Leeds Fans United, before changing his mind and backing out.
Meanwhile, a section of fans have turned against the Italian's ownership and now hold regular protests in a bid to force him from Elland Road.
Interest in Leeds is not a problem, the former Cagliari owner claims, however he wants a sum to be lodged with his lawyers by buyers who are willing to show they are serious about bidding to buy the Championship club.
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Cellino was quoted as saying by the Independent: "We ask them to put [a sum] in the account of the lawyers to show they are willing.
"A lot of people say they are interested. I have 2,000 people want to buy the club."
The Italian however insists he is at present not in the market to sell his stake in Leeds, despite feeling that if he had not already bought the Whites he would be unlikely to do so now.
"I’m not selling the club. If I had to buy the club again – never.
"I’m dealing with things every day that are not football.
"But I’m not selling the club", he added.
