Leeds in behind-the-scenes talks with EFL chiefs over potential Unethical move - Sources

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Published on:

20 Mar 2020, 4:30 am

Leeds United chiefs have been lobbying football top brass every day to push for the Championship season to be completed, Football Insider has learned.

The Premier League, FA and English Football League issued a joint statement yesterday announcing that matches won't recommence until at least 30 April and that the season will be extended "indefinitely".

A Championship source has told Football Insider that Leeds executives have also been active behind the scenes to keep the pressure on the EFL, which runs all the three professional leagues below the Premier League.

Chief executive Angus Kinnear has made it clear that Leeds believe it is vital the season is completed to protect the integrity of the competition.

Daily conversations have been taken place since last week to ensure the message from Elland Road is relayed consistently and clearly that failure to do so would be unethical.

The ruling bodies have not committed to any option at this stage and will continue to remain flexible.

There is a strong determination from chiefs to do everything possible to push for the season to be completed.

Officials are open to the prospect of staging matches behind closed doors in order to complete league programmes.

The potential for litigation from leading Championship clubs missing out on the vast broadcasting windfalls from Premier League promotion has also been a major consideration during discussions over what have been a chaotic week.

The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA are committed to finding ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season as soon as it is safe and possible to do so

Full statement: https://t.co/kr0sJk8JHp pic.twitter.com/K1OBzBbKfc
— Premier League (@premierleague) March 19, 2020

Leeds and West Brom, who are well clear at the top of the Championship with nine match remaining, could make legal moves against the Premier League if the season were to be null and voided.

Other promotion challengers including Fulham, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Preston North End have privately indicated they could do the same.

In other Leeds United news, it can be REVEALED that a £15million deal agreed is to be spread across four payments.

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