Climbing the 107 steps to Wembley’s Royal Box after winning the Championship play-off final leaves players feeling on top of the world. For the vanquished opposition below who are sprawled out on the hallowed turf of the home of football, the low is equally as extreme.
This was Leeds United’s reality as they watched Southampton lift the Championship play-off final trophy and in doing so, ascend into the Premier League.
For the Whites, they remain rooted in the Championship and face a summer of high stakes. So, what next for Leeds, and can they bounce back?
Striking While The Iron Is Still Hot
The short answer is yes but the club can’t afford to make a misstep as the consequences of a third season in the Championship might lead to Leeds staying in England's second tier indefinitely.
Keep in mind that Leeds spent 16 years in the English Football League following relegation in 2004 before achieving promotion to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa in 2020.
Essentially, there is a window of opportunity for relegated clubs to maximise the advantage that parachute payments give them in helping to keep a squad that is capable of achieving promotion.
These payments stop after three seasons outside of the top flight but crucially, they also reduce yearly.
In Leeds’ case, they will only receive 45 per cent of the Premier League’s broadcast revenue (parachute payments) next season, down from 55 per cent the year before.
It will drop to 20 per cent during the 2025/2026 season which will usher in a dawn of austerity in West Yorkshire if the Whites don’t go up as a firesale would be likely to help keep financial fair play (FFP) breaches at bay.
For now, though, Leeds still have the luxury of time and the means to get themselves out of the Championship if the board makes the right decisions. Admittedly, this is far easier said than done.
The Driving Force
Leeds' predicament highlights a universal truth: a club is only ever as successful as the people making the decisions in the background. To truly appreciate the importance of these decisions, consider how critical certain elements are in other fields.
At least, a board's role in a football club can be likened to the pistons that propel a car, the wind that moves a sailboat, or if you’re technically minded, the software that powers an online casino or any other website.
Just as these components are essential yet often unseen, the strategic decisions made by a club's board are paramount to its success. In short, without these hidden forces working in tandem in the boardroom, a football club can’t function.
The Need For Decisive Leadership
In terms of how this might translate into wise decisions for Leeds, the board's first port of call will be to ensure that they make the necessary player sales to guard against points sanctions as a result of breaching profit and sustainability rules.
That, unfortunately, is a direct consequence of not going up but the encouraging news is that the Whites have saleable assets in Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto. Letting the duo go should square the debt at Elland Road while still leaving the foundation of a squad ready to challenge for promotion again.
Leeds will need new personnel in the building too though and from here, it’s about making smart and economical additions to complement the side that manager Daniel Farke has built.
One way to successfully do this is to use the loan market and recruit up-and-coming talent from the Premier League who need first-team football experience.
You only need to look at the impact Joe Rodon had at Leeds during his loan spell this season to understand how much can be gained from using this market effectively.
Setting The Tone For Success
It won’t be a straightforward summer at Elland Road given how high the stakes are, but there might not be a club in the league that is as prepared to achieve promotion as Leeds if the right calls are made.
The Whites might be hurting now but have the opportunity to right the wrongs of last season over the next 12 months, they just need the club’s board to put the foundations in place during the off-season.
