Leeds United: Kieran Maguire moots ‘sizeable’ financial windfall at Elland Road

Kieran Maguire has claimed Leeds United may be better off financially if they are promoted via the playoffs rather than reaching an automatic promotion place.

The football finance expert reported that, while there is no prize money given for winning the Championship, 50% of money made from the playoffs is split between the two clubs involved.

Maguire suggested that if Leeds faced West Brom in the playoffs, the two clubs would have 80,000 fans in attendence across two legs, and then sell out Wembley, resulting in a “sizeable” windfall.

Speaking on The Price Of Football podcast Maguire was asked whether a club in the playoffs could make more money than a promoted side, as he shared: “Yes, they certainly can. Part of the reason for that is that there is no prize money given in the EFL for winning the Championship.

“When it comes to the playoffs, the way the money is distributed, you deduct the cost of hosting the game, 50% of the money goes into the EFL pool, and the other 50% is split between the two clubs. That’s the same when it comes to the final.

“Let’s say we’ve got two clubs, it could be Leeds versus West Brom in the playoffs. Those matches are going to sell out and it’ll be 70,000 or 80,000 people turning up for those two matches, and they’re going to sell out at Wembley.

“We are talking sizeable amounts so from a financial point of view, you do get that leg up. The downside is there is an extra two or three weeks before you are promoted, so it’s an extra two or three weeks before you can start your recruitment.”

Will Leeds United reach automatic promotion?
With the race for automatic promotion hotting up, and any two of Leicester, Ipswich, Leeds and Southampton set to go up with the other two cast to the plyoffs, it now appears the latter option might not be too bad.

Of course, the money that comes along with promotion to the Premier League far outweighs that of the Championship, and the risk of the playoffs is far too great to hope for, but promotion via the playoffs could be ideal for any club.

For the likes of West Brom who are chasing the remaining playoff places, it could make all the difference in terms of their desire and hunger to achieve promotion.

Leeds have a difficult history with the playoffs and will, of course, hope for automatic promotion to avoid any risk, especially given their financial stability under the 49ers Enterprises ownership – but if they miss out on the top two spots, the alternative is not the worst thing ever.