Exclusive: Telegraph detail new Leeds & West Brom promotion threat, Bruce reacts
Alex Bruce insists that Leeds United and West Brom deserve to be promoted to the Premier League regardless of whether the Championship season resumes this season.
The former Leeds defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, believes that it is “only fair” to let teams who have been at the top all season be rewarded by moving up a division.
The Telegraph report that after a meeting on Monday, Premier League clubs are threatening oppose the likes of Leeds and West Brom being promoted if the top flight resumes and the Championship season does not.
The Whites currently sit one point ahead of West Brom at the top, while Fulham are six points behind the Baggies and four clear of fourth-placed Brentford.
Bruce believes that the trio have all earned their place in the Premier League next season and suggests taking relegation off the table for the current campaign if needs must.
Bruce told Football Insider: “For me, I believe Leeds and West Brom deserve to be promoted – and Fulham, I’d throw Fulham in there as well.
“For argument’s sake, say they did promoted the top three teams, me personally, I do feel that would be the only way to go forward. Don’t relegate anyone, promote the top three teams and then next year increase the teams who are relegated to get it back to how it was.
“I think that would be a fair thing to do. My opinion, compared to other people’s, might be a little different but for me, if you’re going to have to shut the season down, it would be the right thing to do. It would be fair for teams like Leeds, for West Brom, who have been at the top of the Championship all season.
“We’re talking about all the teams who have been there or thereabouts all season, if they’re bankers to get promoted, which these kind of teams are, let them go up and relegate more teams next year. It’s the only fair thing to do.”
With the season currently suspended, the majority of both Premier League and Championship sides have nine games left to play this season.
However, 19th-placed Aston Villa have a game in hand over their relegation rivals with Dean Smith’s men just two points away from safety.
In other Leeds United news, Noel Whelan has addressed a potential transfer ban at Elland Road.