Banned Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has claimed that sporting director Nicola Salerno has resigned from his position at the club.

The 58-year-old Italian took the decision to suspend assistant head coach Steve Thompson last week.

Salerno joined Leeds less than a year ago after previously working with Cellino at Cagliari.

"He resigned," Cellino told the Yorkshire Evening Post. "I'm not there so I don't know why. 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."

Cellino's Football League suspension is due to end on May 4.