Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear keen for English football to avoid ‘national embarrassment’ over completion of season

Leeds United chief executive Angus Kinnear has claimed it would be a “national embarrassment” if England’s top two divisions could not complete their seasons while major leagues across Europe return to action.
Leeds United's players currently sit top of the Championship standings. Picture:  Bruce RollinsonLeeds United's players currently sit top of the Championship standings. Picture:  Bruce Rollinson
Leeds United's players currently sit top of the Championship standings. Picture: Bruce Rollinson

Kinnear, writing in his weekly Yorkshire Evening Post column, said the Championship leaders are eager to complete the campaign on the pitch, even if curtailment would see them secure promotion on a points-per-game basis.

And, pointing to the Bundesliga’s return last weekend, Kinnear said it was vital that both the Premier League and the Championship - which ranks as one of the world’s biggest leagues in terms of attendance – see the campaign out on the pitch.

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England had some of the finest sports scientists and football administrators in the game and the time has come for us as a sport to stop repeatedly framing the challenges and start delivering on the solution,” Kinnear wrote.

WARNING: Angus Kinnear, far right, with Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, far left and director of football, Victor Orta, second left.WARNING: Angus Kinnear, far right, with Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, far left and director of football, Victor Orta, second left.
WARNING: Angus Kinnear, far right, with Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani, far left and director of football, Victor Orta, second left.

“It would be a national embarrassment if the Bundesliga, La Liga or Serie A were to be able to complete safely and the first and fifth biggest leagues in the world were not able to follow suit if the context remained comparable.”

Premier League players have begun returning to training this week after being tested for coronavirus – with a total of six players and staff testing positive from the 748 results revealed so far – numbers which Kinnear said “gave a firm indication of how manageable this challenge is becoming”.

The EFL, which is around a week behind the the Premier League, has laid out its own training protocols while also confirming that if play is not possible divisions will be determined on a points-per-game average with promotion and relegation applied.

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“If Leeds United wanted to be opportunist we could have seized on this ‘point per game’ commitment to push for an early curtailment in concert with some already very vocal self-interests,” added Kinnear.

“However, our intention has always been to do all we can to complete this season where we started it – which is out on the pitch.”

The EFL board’s position on relegation being “integral” even in the event of a season being curtailed means that Stevenage would be relegated to the National League if League Two was curtailed and points-per-game was applied.

Fourth-tier clubs had indicated last week they were in favour of curtailing the season but with no relegation.

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National League leaders Barrow would most likely come up to take the EFL back up to 72 members, after the demise of Bury last summer. Harrogate and Fc Halifax Town were both well-placed when the season was suspended.

The EFL put a disclaimer on a club being relegated to the National League, saying it should apply “providing we have assurances that the National League will start season 2020-21”.

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