‘Will get very murky’ – Jim White comment shows Mon development may have big knock-on for Leeds
In a major development in UK football on Monday morning, the Scottish Premiership was ended early with Celtic being confirmed as champions.
That’s not a hugely controversial decision, with Celtic 13 points clear at the top, although Rangers manager Steven Gerrard questioned why a decision had to be made so soon.
The bottom is a different affair and Hearts fans, including Leeds journalist Phil Hay, are not happy at getting relegated off the pitch.
Hearts owner Anne Budge has already said that she will consider legal action against relegation, in a case that could provide a clear indicator as to what would happen if the same happened in the Premier League.
Talking on the White & Sawyer Show (talkSPORT, Monday, 12.15pm), Jim White hinted at forthcoming legal action from Hearts and warned, “It will get very murky”.
He asked Danny Murphy if the same could happen in the Premier League and the Championship, and the former Liverpool player replied, “Well yes, of course”.
The SPFL hasn’t handled the end of the season brilliantly in Scotland and came in for a vote on an independent probe into their behaviour.
And despite calling an end to the season, it doesn’t look like this is going to be the end of the story.
If Hearts do go legal then Leeds fans should be very interested in what happens.
If Hearts manage to avoid relegation in the courts, then it would open the door for Premier League sides to do the same – something that could have a negative impact on Leeds getting promoted.
Hearts are not looking to block promotion but want an expanded Premiership next season.
That solution might not be popular with Premier League clubs in England.
And, if promotion was blocked, we’d imagine that Leeds’ lawyers will have a say.
It’s a potential mess that can only be avoided if the Premier League and the Championship finish the season on the pitch.
That’s what all sides are still working towards and it could be the only way for the 19/20 season to be decided outside of the courts.
And Leeds do not want to win promotion by paying a lawyer.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Encouraging signs’ – Alan Shearer hails development that sends big boost to Leeds promotion bid