Leeds United wage bill prediction made after Elland Road accounts published
Dan Plumley expects there to be a much lower wage bill at Leeds United this year following the publishing of the latest club accounts.
The Whites revealed in the financial update that their wages increased by 20 per cent in 2022/23, but it didn’t help performances on the pitch as they were relegated to the Championship.
The football finance expert anticipates that the wage bill will have reduced this season if relegation clauses were inserted into some of their players’ contracts.
“It’s a Premier League set of accounts, so you expect increases in wages as part of that,” he exclusively told MOT Leeds News.
“In the Championship, we were led to believe that there were some relegation reduction clauses in some of those contracts, which is a positive.
“You would expect some movement again in that wage bill in the next set of accounts, but certainly the ones we’re looking at are a Premier League set of accounts and, given the couple of seasons in the Premier League as Leeds were in the position of, you do expect some increase in wages.
“It’s a decent jump, doesn’t come without its risks, but you’ve got to look at that again fast forwarding onto the bigger picture of where they’re at in the Championship.
“Hopefully, there have been some relegation clauses in some of those contracts and you would probably expect to see a much lower wage bill in the next set of accounts. Then look at where they might go back into the Premier League and you’ll probably see the jump up again.
“It’s reflective of a Premier League set of accounts and the risks that come with it are par for the course if you want to try and compete.”
Leeds United wage bill set for reduction
The wage bill certainly looks high for a Championship club, but it purely comes as a result of Leeds signing players and trying to remain in the Premier League last season.
As Plumley points out, it should have reduced this year due to clauses in some of their players’ contracts and they have sent a number of high earners out on loan.
That situation could change again if the Whites do achieve promotion back to the Premier League, with Daniel Farke’s side currently well-placed in the Championship table.
In other Leeds United news, Graham Smyth has shared a “serious” admission after the Whites posted their accounts.
For more Leeds news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.