Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear: Football wants to finish the season but health concerns come first

The Football League (EFL) have suspended all matches until at least April 3 as a precaution against the spread of covid-19, but the early signs are that it could be much longer before it is considered safe to continue playing.

That has led to widespread speculation – which an EFL statement on Monday morning did its best to discourage – about what happens next.

As the favourites to be promoted to world football's most lucrative domestic, Leeds have more riding on it than most.

“I think what we've heard from the broader football family over the last couple of days is a groundswell of opinion that the right thing to do is to complete the leagues,” said Kinnear. “At the moment it's not a time to be talking about football, it's a time for cool heads and patience and I don't think anyone needs to jump to any immediate solutions.

“I think the broad principle that you maintain the integrity of the competitions and when the time comes and it's safe to do so you finish the leagues. I think everyone is starting to feel that's the right thing to do. It's certainly our opinion.

“We think it maintains the integrity of the football pyramid, the integrity of the competitions, it allows solutions to some of the financial issues that clubs are going to be looking to face.

“I think although it's difficult to put a timescale on it, finishing the leagues across Europe is the right thing to do. We've heard that from Serie A and La Liga who believe that if the Euros are suspended, it could potentially provide a window for leagues across Europe to be completed.”

Leeds are top of the Championship with nine matches to play.

On Tuesday, UEFA is meeting to discuss its plans, and are expected to delay or cancel this summer's European Championships to free up time to complete domestic leagues. The virus is not expected to peak in this country until mid-June, so it might be that the only way to complete the programme is to play matches behind closed doors.

“It's too early to speculate on those types of solutions,” said Kinnear. “Hopefully they are last resorts.

“If the only way to complete the leagues is to play behind closed doors, that's something we will have to consider.

“We would like our supporters in to witness the remainder of the season. That would be our first objective but if it is only safe to play behind closed doors and that is the only way to complete the league, that's also an option.

“By playing the games it helps the clubs financially, particularly the clubs lower down the pyramid. I think that's the solution.

“I think the suggestion that the leagues are just voided probably don't have enough support to happen.

“The concept that the Premier League would just pull up the drawbridge on the rest of the football pyramid, I just don't think that would have the support of the rest of the football family or the wider supporting public.”

For now, though, Kinnear's focus is on looking after his own employees.

Leeds's junior and women's teams are training away from Thorp Arch but the under-18s, under-23s and first team are continuing to work there, with United believing, not unreasonably, that the controlled and clean environment is a safer place for them to be than spending time off in public places.

Kinnear was keen to stress that all football considerations come behind health concerns.

“Our first priority, like most businesses, is the health and well-being of our staff,” he said. “We met again this morning to look at what we need to do to keep our players, our staff and the broader Leeds United family safe. We already took measures last week, so the training ground is effectively locked down for all but first-team activities. We've got individuals self-isolating in line with government regulations if they feel like they're unwell.

“We've also taken the step this morning to send anyone who is in a high risk or vulnerable group home. Also, as of tomorrow we'll be moving to a skeleton staff so it'll just be the key operational businesses in the building.”