Leeds United: Kieran Maguire shares 49ers Enterprises ‘challenges’ amid PSR verdict
Kieran Maguire has explained that the financial situation at Leeds United will depend on 49ers Enterprises’ willingness to provide funding if they don’t achieve promotion.
The football finance expert shared that there will be challenges if Leeds aren’t promoted, but the 49ers could carry on as normal and deal with any issues as they come.
It was also said that there should be no concern over profit and sustainability rules due to player sales, but it would be difficult to keep up the volume of sales Leeds’ benefited from.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post [11 April], Maguire explained: “If the club don’t go up, there are going to be challenges, but a lot comes down to how much the 49ers are willing to say: ‘We’ll just deal with it as and when and we’ll provide funding for the club to carry on as normal.’
“I don’t see any PSR problems, as they did sell players at a profit. I don’t think fans need to worry about a firesale from the point of [complying with] PSR.
“Overall, by PL standards they’re [losses] reasonably modest. We saw Everton and Leicester lose £90 million, Spurs lost 90, so for Leeds just to lose 33 was okay.
“Having said that, it was due to huge player sales which allowed them to get to that position – you cannot do that season in season out and expect to perform on the pitch unless you have a production line.”
Leeds United FFP update emerges after financial news
Maguire’s explanation that the club, for now, is safe from a PSR breach will come as relief for Leeds fans given the situation their fellow relegated club, and title challengers, Leicester have found themselves in this season.
It has been said that Leeds could sue Leicester if Daniel Farke’s side fails to reach the automatic promotion places or go up via the playoffs this season as a result of their profit and sustainability breach, with the investigation set to begin.
However, it has also been made clear that the way Leeds have avoided a breach this time around may not be sustainable. Selling players at such a high volume for high prices cannot be replicated every season and relies on impressive players continuing to come through.
Either you keep the players and dip into murky FFP waters or you continue to sell your best players, fail to adequately replace them, and end up struggling as a result of the best players leaving. That could prove a tough situation to navigate.
In other Leeds United news, Leif Davis shared his reaction to Stuart Dallas’ retirement.
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