‘Will pay whatever is needed’ – Phil Hay makes big Leeds claim after controversial Times report
Athletic journalist Phil Hay has said that Leeds United “will pay whatever is needed” to keep their remaining games at Elland Road.
This comes after it was reported in the Times that Leeds and West Brom games were being lumped in with Liverpool fixtures and considered “high risk” in terms of fans congregating at stadiums.
It claims that some fixtures could be switched to neutral venues.
Talking on the latest episode of the Not the Top 20 podcast, Hay was asked if he thought Leeds’ games would be switched.
“It’s possible, although I know Leeds will lobby to keep games at Elland Road and they will pay whatever is needed in terms of a police bill.
“I’m sure they will also campaign pretty strongly to remind fans not to come to games, not to create potential security issues at grounds.
“There is a difference in the Championship to the Premier League. You’ve got two teams who could still win the title, numerous clubs who could get in the top six and nothing is settled at the bottom.
“The problem with neutral venues is deciding the games that should be moved and those that shouldn’t, and I’m not just talking security but integrity.
“If game x is moved then surely game y would have to be moved to make it fair… To single out Leeds winning promotion as the only fixture that needs to be played at a neutral venue is wrong and I’m sure they would contest that.”
Home advantage seems to be almost zero in the Bundesliga since its return, with just seven home wins recorded in the first 33 games.
However, Leeds will want to secure promotion at Elland Road. It’s more than just getting a home advantage, it’s symbolic.
This is a huge deal for Leeds who have been out of the Premier League since 2004.
It’s bad enough that it’s going to happen without fans but being singled out and forced to play in a neutral venue would be very harsh.
And, as Hay pointed out, fixtures involving Leeds and West Brom could also have a big impact on other issues in the Championship, which is still wide open.
It comes down to the fans and how they behave during Leeds’ first few fixtures.
Hay has said Leeds will campaign for fans to stay away and we’d like to add our weight to that as well.
If you want to see Leeds promoted at Elland Road you have to stay away from the stadium.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Worse for them than Covid-19’ – Ferdinand makes stunning claim about Leeds restart