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Phil Hay expresses 'real doubts' over remainder of Leeds campaign
Phil Hay has admitted that he has “real doubts” over Leeds United being able to complete their Championship campaign this season.
The Whites are currently in a state of limbo due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, with nine matches left to play but no clear indication as to whether or not that will be possible.
EFL chairman Rick Parry suggested on Tuesday that a deadline of July 31st was effectively in place for the fixture schedule to be completed, revealing that the governing body did not feel it was financially plausible to wait any longer than that for a conclusion to the 2019/20 season.
And Hay has since weighed in to express his own concerns over the likelihood of the remaining matches being played.
Writing on his personal Twitter account, The Athletic journalist said: “I cannot see Leagues One and Two completing.
“The Championship… more likely but still, I have real doubts about that.”
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I cannot sees Leagues 1+2 completing. The Championship…more likely but still, I have real doubts about that
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) May 5, 2020
With Parry’s latest admission, it does seem as if a conventional conclusion to the season is increasingly unlikely.
For all fixtures to be wrapped up by the end of July, clubs would have to return to training in next couple of weeks, as originally suggested back in April, and a hectic schedule of matches would have to follow thereafter.
Whether that is doable remains to be seen, but it is somewhat ominous that Parry admitted on Tuesday that a decision on the matter will have to be made “within days”.
More comforting, however, is the chairman’s continued insistence that he expects three clubs to be relegated from the top flight and three to be promoted regardless of how the season is concluded, describing the alternative as a “very messy” legal battle.
Hopefully then, we can rest easy, even if Hay’s concerns are realised.
Obviously, it would be preferable to play any remaining fixtures as initially planned, but if that isn’t possible, promotion still seems like a strong possibility.
In other Leeds United news, Report: Whites plot swoop for centre-back out of contract this summer, Bielsa a big fan.