Leeds United plan for summer exodus if worst-case fears play out as Graham Smyth also shares financial update
Leeds United are expecting an exodus of players if they drop into the Championship but are confident they will be in a strong financial position should the worst occur, according to a Yorkshire Evening Post report.
The Whites lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Saturday 6 May in Sam Allardyce’s first game in charge, with the ex-England boss hired in a last-gasp effort to avoid dropping out of the Premier League.
Defeat to the leaders left Leeds 19th and two points adrift of safety, with home games against Newcastle United and Tottenham sandwiching a trip to West Ham in their final three matches.
Graham Smyth of the YEP reported Allardyce has full authority as things stand, with hope still intact that plans for a new era in the top flight can begin in earnest when the transfer window re-opens in early June.
However, relegation would likely result in the sale of Leeds’ big-name players, though with significant commercial revenue, saleable talent, wage reductions built into contracts, and parachute payments there is hope the financial hit of dropping down a division will not be too significant.
Leeds should start preparing for the worse
On the surface, you can see why Leeds turned to Allardyce, who did excellent firefighting jobs at the likes of Sunderland, West Ham, and Everton in the past – let’s gloss over momentarily his ill-fated spell at West Brom that resulted in relegation during the lockdown season.
But realistically, a four-game spell always seemed too short for a huge impact to be made – even a coach as defensively resolute as Allardyce will have trouble stemming leaks from a side with the worst defensive record in the league.
Leeds can take solace from the fact that two of their remaining three matches are at Elland Road and they will need to draw on all the energy from the crowd, and it can definitely be argued that the Spurs game to complete the season is there for the taking against one of the division’s most inconsistent sides.
But the reality is Leeds will need a drastic change in fortunes to get out of their predicament. The sensible thing for the board to do now is to start planning for life back in the second tier.
In other Leeds United news, a Joelinton injury update has been revealed ahead of the Leeds United v Newcastle United clash.