Convicted fraudster Cellino keen to buy Palace after failed West Ham takeover

Published: 10 Mar 2010 - 11:06:55

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Convicted fraudster Cellino keen to buy Palace after failed West Ham takeover

Colourful Cagliari president Massimo Cellino is interested in buying troubled Crystal Palace. The Italian, who failed in a bid to buy West Ham United in January, has also had a look at the considerably more wealthy Queens Park Rangers in his determination to buy into English football. Crystal Palace were hit with a 10-point penalty for going into administration, plunging them from the battle for a play-off place to just a place above the drop zone in the Coca-Cola Championship. Scrap: Darren Ambrose of Crystal Palace is challenged by Bristol City's Louis Carey Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport says Cellino, a convicted fraudtser, is 'very close to an agreement' with Palace administrator Brendan Guilfoyle. The paper say QPR are his second choice, but there are no indications that the billionaire Mittal family would be willing to sell. Cellino would face questions over his suitability to own a club. Stand and deliver: Massimo Cellino had hoped to purchase West Ham In 1996, the 53-year-old was held in custody for eight days and later convicted of deceiving the EU and the Italian Ministry for Agriculture out of £7.5million. He plea-bargained a reduced and suspended 14-month sentence. Then in 2001 he was handed a 15-month suspended sentence for false accounting at the Serie A club he controls. Selhurst spark: Paul Hart is the new man in charge at Palace, with former striker Dougie Freedman appointed as his assistant No WAGs at the Palace! Would-be Selhurst Park owner Massimo Cellino and the showgirl Belen Rodriguez he kicked out of a partyPalace 0 Bristol C 1: Iwelumo's wonder volley leaves Hart's men brokenHome is where the Hart is: Being with skint Palace is Pompey all over again says new Eagles boss CITY FOCUS: Football facing a financial red card The latest Coca-Cola Championship standings, results, fixtures and statsCheck out Crystal Palace in our Stats Zone