Mike Dean wants Leeds United to secure Premier League promotion in Leicester, Ipswich battle

Mike Dean has admitted he wants Leeds United to successfully get promoted back to the Premier League for the sake of the club's fans.

The former top flight referee, speaking live on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday on 20 April, told host Simon Thomas that officiating at Elland Road is "great" but "really, really hostile", while praising the atmosphere that the Whites fans create.

And with Daniel Farke's side engaged in a tight four-way fight for the two automatic promotion spots with Leicester City, Ipswich and Southampton he indicated his support for the German to get the job done.

Asked about taking charge of games at the Whites' home Dean said (1.25pm): "It's nice, it's great, great atmosphere. It's hostile, really, really hostile, but you want this team back in the Premier League because the fans deserve it, great club."

Daniel Farke backed in Leeds United promotion bid

The Whites' three main rivals for a spot back in the top flight might object to Dean's assertion, while he doesn't appear to be a huge fan of everyone involved in the operation at Elland Road.

But despite a stunning run of form earlier in 2024 that saw Farke lead his side roaring back into the automatic promotion race the team has started to falter of late and nothing is guaranteed.

Despite having the second tier's Player of the Season in Crysencio Summerville, and two more members of the Team of the Season in Ethan Ampadu and Georginio Rutter Leeds United are currently on the outside looking in at the top two spots.

After Leicester's dramatic win over West Brom on Saturday they are now four ahead in top spot, with Ipswich two back in second, and the Saints rapidly emerging back up behind the Whites from fourth, albeit having hit a snag against Cardiff.

None of these sides are going to welcome ending up in the play-offs, not least a Leeds United whose fans have had more than enough misery down that route.

But even via that method at least one of the four is guaranteed to be consigned to another season in the Championship despite what will have been an outstanding campaign, and clearly Dean hopes it isn't Farke's men.

In other Leeds United news, finance expert Kieran Maguire reacted to a "scary" discovery in the Whites' accounts.

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