By Mark Smith

26th Jul, 2020 | 8:10pm

'Massive opportunity' - Howard Wilkinson makes big Leeds Premier League claim

Howard Wilkinson has claimed that Leeds United have a massive opportunity to succeed in the Premier League after sealing their promotion.

The legendary Whites boss admitted that his former side have all the ingredients to be classed as a “top-club” in England – something that he believes not many clubs have.

Leeds cruised to the Championship title this season, eventually finishing 10 points ahead of West Brom after winning their final six games.

Wilkinson detailed that smart planning is needed behind-the-scenes to make sure that Leeds can kick on after promotion.

“If you look at the ingredients for becoming a top club in England at the moment then you are talking about city clubs, you are talking about clubs with populations that are big enough to support in the numbers required,” he told Sky Sports, via Yorkshire Evening Post.

“You are talking about ease of access, there’s an airport at Leeds.

“It’s a massive opportunity and you can only hope that the opportunity is taken by good forward planning and plotting a route that will keep them there and then take them on to better things.”

Leeds definitely have one of the biggest fan bases in the country, and that will benefit the Premier League once crowds are allowed again.

The Whites averaged an attendance of 35,321 in the Championship, and that was better than 10 of the clubs in the Premier League this season [Transfermarkt].

Andrea Radrizzani has opened up on his plans to extend Elland Road in the next three years, and if his plans are similar on the pitch, Leeds will have no problem in succeeding under his ownership.

In other Leeds United news, Angus Kinnear has dedicated promotion to singular behind-the-scenes figure at Elland Road