MOT View: Rick Parry admission on EFL website likely to be crushing news for Leeds fans
Leeds United fans are unlikely to be able to attend the final nine matches of the club’s season, EFL chairman Rick Parry has confirmed.
Reports have surfaced in the last week that have shown the EFL’s latest plan to conclude the 2019/20 season.
Leeds have nine matches to play of their Championship campaign and, before football ground to a halt last month due to COVID-19, the Whites were top of the table and seven points clear of third.
Since relegation from the Premier League in 2004, Leeds have not been better placed to win automatic promotion back to the top-flight.
One good thing is that most clubs and senior officials want to see the season finish by all matches being completed.
However Parry has confirmed in an open letter to supporters that the matches are likely to take place behind closed doors.
“When it comes to footballing matters, I understand the desire among fans for definitive answers, particularly around the conclusion of 2019/20 campaign,” Parry wrote on the EFL website.
“As I am sure you will appreciate, the situation presents significant operational and financial challenges, including the logistics of Clubs returning to full operational status, the practicalities of playing football behind closed doors, and the possible knock-on effects for the 2020/21 campaign. Please be assured that we are working hard on these and will update you as soon as we can once decisions have been made.
“To give you an honest assessment of the current situation; the point at which you will be able to attend games again remains unclear. Please be assured, however, that we are going to welcome you back to stadiums as soon as it is safe to do so.
“Your contribution to the matchday experience and atmospheres created in stadia up and down the country is something we should never take for granted.
“Unfortunately, I cannot tell you today when football will resume, though whenever we do return, matches are likely to be played without crowds.”
This is a crushing blow for Leeds fans.
Even though we would be glad to see the season finished and the Whites have nine games to win promotion, we want to be able to see Elland Road being packed to the rafters.
We want to be able to see thousands of Leeds fans travelling up and down the country to away matches.
We want to hear over 30,000 people signing Marching On Together in unison.
We want to be at Elland Road to see Bielsa and his players celebrate a return to the Premier League and cement themselves as heroes of the club.
Unfortunately that doesn’t look as though it is going to happen, which is a huge shame.
In other Leeds United news, Stuart Dallas has detailed what Jean-Kevin Augustin is doing differently in lockdown.