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Report: Bowyer clashes with Wilkinson over potential Ch'ship resolution that would promote Leeds
Former Leeds United midfielder Lee Bowyer has clashed with ex-Elland Road manager Howard Wilkinson over the prospect of the Championship being decided on a points per game average, according to the Telegraph.
Bowyer, now Charlton Athletic boss, has a lot to lose from the season being tallied up in such a manner, with his side currently facing relegation back to League One as things stand.
During a conference call of the League Managers Association, of which Wilkinson is now chairman, the prospect of an average being used was floated as one potential resolution to the ongoing debate over how to complete the 2019/20 campaign.
It is understood that Wilkinson presented the idea on the basis of statistical evidence that shows there is generally little change in league standings over the last nine games of a season – the amount left to play in the second tier.
But in response, Bowyer is said to have outlined his “strong opposition” to the idea, and instead maintained his previously stated stance that he wishes for any remaining matches to be contested on the pitch.
The article goes on to claim that Marcelo Bielsa was not present for the call, with a Leeds representative instead listed as one of the Argentine’s assistants, although his video was not activated and there was no audible contribution.
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We stand with Bowyer in the sense that it is much more preferable for any remaining matches to be played as initially planned.
To be fair to Wilkinson, he was not outlining points per game as the LMA’s stance, but instance mentioned it as a method by which things may have to be decided.
And if the worst comes to the worst, and if there is no way of completing the last nine games, the PPG is the fairest method of bringing things to a conclusion.
We’ve already seen it used in League Two, and the only other conclusion is to void the whole season.
That would be shockingly unfair to Leeds, and you would hope that Bowyer’s obvious self-interest in the matter doesn’t cloud his judgement if we do eventually reach that point in the debate.
In other Leeds United news, ‘I don’t get it’ – Wayne Rooney weighs in on Championship restart debate.