Thoroughly dissecting yesterday’s bizarre press conference with Massimo Cellino is a task for those better qualified, the poor souls whose job requires they suffer through repeated plays of Cellino’s 70 minute long exercise in extreme narcissism – listening through it live was challenging enough and not something I’d willingly repeat.

Once was enough to leave an impression though. The press conference was almost a week in planning apparently; planning I can only assume went out of the window the second they sat down, for this was an absolute train-wreck in terms of PR that served absolutely no benefit to the club, it’s supporters, or Cellino himself.

The first question, rather predictably, was on the future of Neil Redfearn but it was a question Massimo Cellino wasn’t ready to answer just yet, insisting it be kept ’til the end, which suggested there was some sort of structured plan to this gathering; a beginning and a middle, possibly a few key points he wished to address as the event progressed.

There wasn’t. And Redfearn wasn’t to be saved for the end either.

There was no script or discernible plan, no announcements or presentation, this was just Massimo putting himself in front of a room full of press because he wanted to vent.

Regrettably, what was supposed to be an organised press conference by a professional football club soon descended into something more closely resembling a group therapy session. It’s hard to say what motivated the whole charade, but an all-consuming paranoia soon took hold. Massimo is hurting. Hurting because of how the Football League interpret Italian law, hurting because nobody understands The Hock was the right watermelon at the “wrong time” (apparently), hurting because he wasted £9.5m on players who aren’t good enough, but most of all, hurting because of Neil Redfearn. And because the fans love Neil Redfearn more than they love him.

I’ve said for years there’s a Hollywood script in the trials and tribulations of Leeds United, only the script I had in mind was a dark, gritty crime drama about lying vultures conning the innocent (our fans). After yesterday’s performance however, I’m thinking I should pitch ‘Living The Dream’ as a romcom the next time I call Universal.

Cellino is the jilted lover of course and if yesterday’s presser was meant to achieve anything, it was a call for sympathy. It was Redfearn who stopped calling Cellino apparently, and in his absence that seems to have led to an unhealthy level of paranoia. But how could Redfearn reject Cellino after all that he’s done for him?

“Who put Neil Redfearn in that position? Me. Who wants Neil to succeed more than anyone else?” Is it you, Massimo? (asked nobody) “It’s me!”

Can’t you see Neil? Massimo made you! Why won’t you love him?

Massimo didn’t shirk the Neil Redfearn question because he wanted to avoid answering it or because he wanted to save it for the end, he just wanted chance to frame his answer. He wanted chance to try and convince all those watching on that it’s he – not Neil – who’s the victim in all of this. Cellino is just a man who’s been hurt by his one true love, a humble man who received no credit for giving Neil Redfearn to the world.

The framing of that answer is important because Redfearn isn’t the only problem for the Leeds United owner. Massimo’s already been burnt by his first divorce to Brian McDermott and didn’t mind admitting that the kids (the fans in this analogy) were a concern. Recalling the time 200 (it was definitely less than that) chased his taxi around Elland Road, Cellino bemoaned having to explain his decisions to the fans – who should presumably be seen and not heard.

They probably shouldn’t chase taxis around Elland Road in fairness and they definitely shouldn’t be abusing his daughter on social media (one of the few valid complaints he had during the press conference). And Cellino doesn’t really have to explain himself to anyone, but the fans – as paying customers and the only reason this club exists at all – have every right to react to any decision he makes.

Cellino wants to have it both ways. He wants to make every single decision, admit that they were bad decisions in a press conference/public therapy session, be forgiven, then have everyone cheer him on while he goes and repeats the same mistakes again, all while firing people for job performance which massively hinges upon Cellino’s whims and mistakes.

Admitting to spending £9.5m on “garbage” and wanting to remove funding from Thorp Arch isn’t something Leeds United fans are going to cheer any Leeds United owner for, no matter how many confusing metaphors such news is wrapped in.

It’s a shame too, because for most of this week it felt like the club was getting it’s act together. A contract extension for Lewis Cook was great news, as was the return of Adam Pearson, but then comes a very public reminder of just how unstable the man running this club- and by extension, the club itself- is.

On and on…