Leeds would face seven-figure bill if promoted under plot hatched by Championship rivals: report
Millwall have sent a letter to Leeds United and the rest of the clubs in the Championship, outlining a plan they hope will help get the rest of the season played on the pitch.
They have proposed the three promoted teams pay the entire bill for Coronavirus testing in the Championship, according to a report in the Mail.
That could amount to £1.4m per promoted side, with testing set to be done twice a week for the rest of the campaign.
The London club is just two points off the top six and are very keen to get the chance to make the play-offs.
The Mail claims that the £1.4m would be offset by a financial package from promotion worth £170m.
Any plan like this would obviously have to be ratified by the EFL, and there is a potential conflict of interest issue, but we’re cautiously supportive.
The three teams that get promoted will unlock the riches of the Premier League and Leeds are on course to be one of those.
We think it’s more than fair that those three sides pick up the bill for testing, to take away a potential barrier to the restart.
Hull have come out officially as wanting the season voided and a leaked letter explaining why cited £1.2m in costs for playing without crowds as one of the reasons.
This would help out here, although we suspect it might actually have more to do with Hull sitting one place and two points above the drop zone.
However, ultimately we think the testing bill should be picked up by the EFL rather than being left to the individual clubs.
However, in the absence of leadership from the EFL we’d have nothing against the Millwall plan and would expect Leeds to feel the same.
It’s a lot of money but the charge would only be triggered if and when Leeds are promoted.
In other Leeds United news, Championship clubs could sue EFL over relegation as new legal battle looms – report