MOT View: Where Leeds stand as newspaper says some Ch’ship clubs on course to break FFP rules
The Daily Mail posted an alarming report on Wednesday night which said that a number of Championship clubs are in danger of breaking Financial Fair Play rules due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It has been over a month since any Championship fixtures were played and as far as we know, it is impossible to say when teams will be able to play their remaining nine matches.
Leeds United are anxiously waiting to see whether they will be able to continue with their bid for promotion to the Premier League because, as it stands, the Whites are top of the Championship table and seven points clear of third place.
Now, the Mail has reported that a host of second-tier clubs could begin next season with a points deduction as the lack of matches has wreaked havoc on the financial aspect of the game.
Leeds are one of the best clubs at raking in the money on matchday due to Elland Road being one of the biggest stadiums in the country and the club’s average attendance isn’t bettered by anyone else in the second-tier.
However that income has been frozen due to the coronavirus-enforced suspension of the league and with the prospect of matches being played behind closed doors once action can resume, it’s likely that the club won’t receive the matchday income they’re used to in the last nine games.
The Mail now reports that five to eight clubs are likely to breach FFP rules due to the suspension of football and may be forced into selling players once the transfer window is re-opened.
Are Leeds one of those clubs?
Earlier this week, the Yorkshire giants released their financial figures for last season which, on the face of it, showed that the club lost £21million in Marcelo Bielsa’s first campaign in charge.
However when looking deeper at Leeds’ financial records – as done by life-long fan, and director of LeedsFansUnited, Mike Thornton, it shows that the Whites have no reason to worry about breaking FFP rules.
Thornton has said: “All in all, my first glance at the accounts is positive and they are in line with expectations. As regards FFP, we are well clear of trouble as at 30th June 2019.”
That is a major relief but Leeds United should be on course to win promotion to the Premier League once the season resumes, and that will see the club’s income raise by a lot.
If Leeds did come anywhere near close to breaking FFP rules then the club does have some very valuable players on the books that would probably be sold to avoid a points deduction.
All in all, there’s no need for Leeds fans to worry that they’re one of the clubs mentioned by the Daily Mail.
In other Leeds United news, since leaving Leeds last summer, this forward has been involved in 15 goals for an EFL club.