Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear hopeful stadiums will be full again next season

Looking ahead: Leeds Unioted chief executive Angus Kinnear. Picture Tony Johnson

It is almost a calendar year since White followers attended a home match, with the West Yorkshire derby with Huddersfield Town on March 7 being the last occasion when supporters were allowed into home games before the Covid-19 pandemic struck and changed the face of football.

But with mass vaccinations now taking place among growing sections of the population, Kinnear is hopeful that fans could return by the start of next season.

Speaking to the official Leeds United podcast, Kinnear said: “I think there is a good chance of potentially something happening at the end of the season, for the cup finals. “I think most of the Premier League is focused on ensuring that we get a full return to fans at the start of next season.

“I think the learning across everybody as we’ve looked at all of the operational requirements, it’s actually just better to get everybody back. Rather than have half or 25 per cent, we just need to get back to full stadiums.”

Kinnear has also stressed that building a ‘world-class’ stadium at Elland Road are gathering pace.

Plans were initially announced during the club’s centenary celebrations over a year ago for an expansion – which would nearly double the 35,000 capacity at Elland Road – with the West and North Stands a particular focus for possible development.

Majority owner Andrea Radrizzani welcomed fresh investment into West Yorkshire at the start of 2021 when NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers increased their stake in the club to 37 per cent in January, with redevelopment of Elland Road also viewed as a critical area of importance for the US-based franchise.

“That process started prior to promotion.

“It’s now accelerated with some pace,” Kinnear added.

“There’s a clear vision from Andrea [Radrizzani] and the 49ers that we should have a world-class stadium for a world-class team.”

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