Leeds United ‘deserve’ promotion, admits Sheffield Wednesday midfielder

One of the difficulties of asking clubs to decide how an incomplete 2019-20 season should be resolved is most have a vested interest. The Owls are one of the few Championship teams unlikely to win promotion or relegation.

Although he acknowledges there will be difficult decisions if the season is abandoned, Pelupessy thinks morally the top two have won the right to go up.

“It’s hard to say what should happen but Leeds and West Brom deserve it because they’ve spent almost the whole season in those (automatic promotion) places,” he commented. “The play-off places are really hard too because the teams from third to sixth deserve a chance (to win promotion) and everyone knows how important it is to get into the Premier League.

“Promotion is very important and maybe having 22 (Premier League) teams is more fair but if you have promotion normally you have to have relegation. I don’t know if Norwich staying in the Premier League is really fair, but they would be really lucky (to escape relegation) and I suppose it’s the same between the Championship and League One.

“It’s really hard to decide what’s fair but you have to make it clear and do everything or nothing. I’m just happy I don’t have to make that decision because not everyone is going to be happy.”

Top of the Championship after 37 games, Leeds are one of a number of Yorkshire teams waiting to see how their leagues will be decided. Rotherham United are second in League One, Harrogate Town and FC Halifax Town in the Conference play-off positions, while Barnsley are bottom of the Championship. Sheffield United are on course to qualify for the Europa League.

Wednesday are 15th in the Championship, eight points outside the play-off places, nine above the relegation zone.

The Football League and Football Association want promotion and relegation between the top two divisions.

“I don’t think the Premier League will stop trying (to complete the season) until it becomes too difficult,” said Pelupessy. “From a football perspective the best thing is to finish it but if it’s not possible for health reasons, you cannot do that.”

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