Leeds United could land points deduction in new disaster – expert
Leeds United find themselves in a “worrying” situation after their latest accounts provided an insight into the financial troubles the club are facing – and a “disastrous” points deduction is a growing possibility.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the former Leeds and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who is well connected at his former club, laid bare the situation and admitted gaining promotion would provide the Whites with a “huge bonus” as they look to ease their financial concerns.
Although the club reported a record turnover of £189.7million in 2022-23, they posted a loss of £33.7million as they were relegated to the Championship.
Football Insider revealed on 27 April that Leeds could potentially be hit with a points deduction if they fail to pay back the £190million worth of transfer fees they owe to other clubs, with £73.6million of that total due to be paid by the end of June this year.
Leeds United could be hit with points deduction
Robinson fears the Whites could find themselves in a similar position to Sheffield United even if they are promoted to the top flight after the struggling Blades were forced to sell some of their key players to balance the books last summer.
“You look at the revenue the Premier League brings and the television, the sponsorship and everything else,” he told the Inside Track podcast.
“Leeds United are a huge football club, with the fanbase and the revenue they turn over, not just in this country but globally. They are bigger than a lot of the teams in the Premier League now.
“There is another question about the stadium. Elland Road has been in need for repair for a long time. They are talking about whether they are going to redevelop the ground.
“But if the money isn’t there to generate revenue, look at Everton, the new stadium they’ve got, they’ve gone to try and better themselves and get a new stadium to increase revenue. It’s difficult to do when you’re going to get fined for that.
“The accounts are certainly worrying, but I think the Premier League would come as a huge bonus for Leeds if that is the case.
“You just hope there is no overspend that costs them a points deduction because getting into the Premier League is hard enough.
“But starting off already snookered behind the black ball with a points deduction, it’s difficult to stay in there. It seems a points deduction is possible, and that would be a disaster.”
“In a similar way to Sheffield United last season, if you believe what you read that if they didn’t get into the Premier League, financially it would’ve been a disaster for them.
“They started the Premier League season weaker than they finished the Championship with the squad that they had because they had to sell players going into the Premier League.
“The Premier League money has kept them going and their head above water.”
In other news, Leeds United will be forced to sell star players after ‘devastating’ financial update
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