Gary Neville has credited Leeds United for surviving on the final day and insists they have dodged a huge financial bullet.
The Yorkshire club became the first side since 2011 to start their last league game inside the bottom three but manage to survive as they took all three points at the Brentford Community Stadium.
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Burnley, meanwhile, went down in 18th and questions have quickly been thrown at the club for sacking Sean Dyche and talks of £65m worth of debt that needs to be paid off.
But while the Clarets enter a difficult period, Leeds will be breathing a sigh of relief and will now go about climbing the table next season. Neville warned of the ramifications that relegation would have had, but praised them for maintaining their top-flight status.
Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, he said: “Leeds would have been in significant trouble from the finances side of things. So that was where the real pressure laid today at the bottom. I’ve never been part of it, I never want to be part of it, but well done to Leeds, they’ve been a great addition to the Premier League in this last couple of seasons.”
TIF Thoughts on Leeds…
So, it appears as if Gary Neville has suddenly changed his tune as he’s done nothing but predict ‘trouble’ and stated that he thought Leeds would go down.
It was a bold decision from the Elland Road executives to sack Marcelo Bielsa at the end of February, especially with supporters still clamouring for the Argentinian in the final home game of the season last weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, by steering the Whites to safety, perhaps Jesse Marsch can now get the backing from the fans that he deserves as he sets about preparing for his first full season at the helm.
Will Leeds stay up next season?YesNo |
It appears that the American is already getting to work, by sealing a deal for compatriot Brenden Aaronson from his former employers at RB Salzburg.
The Daily Mail has reported that there was an agreement in place to sign the attacking midfielder subject to Leeds avoiding the drop in January, which of course has now occurred, and this should mark the beginning of a restructuring phase at Thorp Arch, with both Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips being highly sought after.
In other news, ‘Expletives were exchanged’ – Journalist spots LUFC ace in altercation with Brentford supporters