‘Big problems’ – Phil Hay makes Leeds claim as power struggle erupts in Premier League
The Premier League is set to meet again on Friday, one day after the UK government could potentially relax lockdown rules.
However, Project Restart has hit a big speed hurdle that Athletic journalist Phil Hay thinks could “cause big problems” for Leeds United.
It’s been reported widely that the bottom six clubs in the Premier League are not happy about playing in neutral venues unless relegation is taken off the table, with one club executive going as far as calling it an act of sabotage.
Playing in neutral venues is the only option for a restart according to the Premier League.
The Mail has reported that the Big Six has hit back and are lobbying for relegation and promotion if the season doesn’t finish. They’re hoping that will force the bottom clubs to vote for the restart proposal.
In the wake of these reports, including one from the BBC, one Leeds fan asked Hay: “Do you think there’s a big danger to Leeds’ and Baggies’ promotion hopes if Prem agree to no relegation as swap for playing neutral venues?”
Hay said it “would cause big problems, for sure. Leeds would argue for an expanded EPL but you’re up against the top six clubs who already think they’ve got too many games to cope with.”
At the moment, the clearest path to Leeds getting promoted is for teams to be relegated from the Premier League – whether the season ends or not.
A Guardian report from last week said that the Championship’s contingency plan would be to promote Leeds and West Brom automatically if the season can’t be completed.
The block to Project Restart is currently the teams at the bottom of the league.
However, if relegation was taken off the table, Leeds could find themselves up against the Big Six and others, who won’t want to play even more games next season when that could start late or be interrupted by a second wave of Coronavirus.
The big Premier League clubs already think they play too many games and there would need to be a vote of 14 to expand the league.
Leeds fans will be hoping that the Premier League doesn’t capitulate in the face of pressure from teams obviously trying to save their own skin.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Impossible’ – Alan Shearer delivers dire warning to Leeds fans after major setback reported