Kieran Maguire: Leeds gutted by record-breaking blow
Senior figures at Leeds United will be frustrated at losing matchday income from their record-breaking number of away matches in the FA Cup.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that Leeds have lost out on income but sales made in the early rounds of cup competitions will not be very lucrative.
The Yorkshire club broke the record for the most successive away draws in the FA Cup this month with their trip to Peterborough set to be their 13th in a row.
Leeds last played at home in the FA Cup in the 2015/16 season when they faced Rotherham.
In contrast, Manchester United have been drawn at home for 12 successive domestic cup ties after facing Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
As a result of Leeds’ bad luck, they have missed out on millions of pounds worth of matchday income that would have been generated from ticket sales at Elland Road.
Maguire believes Leeds will be frustrated at their record, but insists they will remain focused on promotion back to the Premier League as it will be far more lucrative.
“If Manchester United have ‘warm balls’ in the sense of regularly getting home fixtures, then Leeds United’s must be extremely cold,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“They would sell out at Elland Road if they had more home fixtures in the cups so there will be a degree of frustration.
“However, matchday receipts don’t tend to be significant, especially in the early rounds of the cup when prices tend to be discounted ahead of the busy winter period.
“So I don’t think this will be a significant blow for the club – ultimately the much more important task is trying to return to the Premier League as quick as possible.“
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