Leeds officials will attend a meeting with other Championship clubs at Villa Park on Tuesday in the wake of the EFL’s decision to agree a new broadcast deal with Sky Sports, according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay.
Hay, chief football writer at the regional newspaper, reported on his personal Twitter account on Monday that the disgruntled Whites were to attend the meeting as clubs assess their options after the announcement.
It is further added that there remains serious opposition to the £595million deal, with Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani reported to be at the head of a group pushing for a breakaway Premier League 2.
Championship clubs now meeting at Villa Park tomorrow for further talks and to consider their options. Leeds will be represented. Still a lot of opposition to the deal. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) November 19, 2018
As reported by Sky Sports, the deal will see them broadcast 138 EFL games a season until 2024.
OPINION
It will come as a shock to Leeds and the other unhappy clubs that the EFL have taken this decision already, and tomorrow’s meeting is set to be an interesting one for sure. Radrizzani and other senior figures in the league have previously talked of a breakaway division if the EFL agreed another deal with Sky which is perceived to lowball those in the Championship. This deal, while worth an eye-watering £595million, is obviously not up to expectations. Radrizzani will no doubt be fuming at the decision, as will those involved at the other clubs threatening a breakaway, but now that the deal is agreed it is not clear what exactly they can do. The majority of clubs within the EFL are likely to be happy with such an agreement, and threatening a breakaway made up of just a few clubs is unlikely to have the desired effect. There is however little point speculating until more information emerges, and that is likely to come after this meeting on Tuesday.