Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani enjoys somewhat of a topsy-turvy relationship with the club's fans. Indeed, the reputation of the Whites' majority shareholder rises and falls throughout the season, typically peaking after the signing of a new player and then nosediving after a string of bad results. Is Radrizzani perfect? Probably not, but he's also a long way from the fly-by-night character that he is, at times, made out to be by a certain section of the Leeds fans.
After all, this is a man who was in charge during Leeds' long-awaited return to the top-flight, and crucially, it looks as if the Whites will be able to consolidate their Premier League status for the third season in a row. This is, at least, what the latest football betting today suggests as far as relegation from the Premier League goes with Leeds at 4/1 to go down. Admittedly, those odds leave room for the worst-case scenario to happen to Leeds but should they make it a hat-trick of seasons back in the top flight, then Elland Road's expansion will, in all likelihood, finally take place.
The Only Place For Us pic.twitter.com/0K3HgvMdZA
Leeds United (@LUFC) May 11, 2022
In fact, Leeds' CEO Angus Kinnear had always stated that two seasons in the Premier League would be enough for the Whites to push ahead with the redevelopment of Elland Road. Ultimately, the reasoning was relegation becomes a lot more unlikely if clubs are able to preserve their top-flight status for two seasons following promotion from the Championship.
It was, of course, a close-run thing during the last campaign with Leeds securing their Premier League survival in just the final two minutes of a nine-month season. Needless to say, this unnecessary flirtation with relegation meant that Radrizzani incurred the wrath of the Leeds fans. On this occasion, it was probably justified as the owner's frugal approach in the transfer market almost cost Leeds dearly, and to give the club their due, they did admit that their strategy was wrong and even apologized only a short while after the last game of the season.
"OHHH JACK HARRISON!"
Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 22, 2022
LEEDS UNITED ARE STAYING UP! AND JUST LOOK WHAT IT MEANS!! pic.twitter.com/THvTkJbrI7
Nevertheless, this episode did severely hurt Radrizzani's standing among the Leeds faithful and as things are, you wonder if successfully completing Elland Road's expansion under his reign will be the only way to salvage the Italian's reputation.
Essentially, doing this will propel Leeds up the table in terms of revenue as it is forecasted that the planned development will bring in an extra £7 million a season. These figures are based on Elland Road's capacity increasing to 55,000 from its current 37,000. Crucially, this estimation does not take into account any hospitality offerings Leeds might come up with which is important to keep in mind as this is how clubs, in reality, make their money.
In short, any move to expand Elland Road would make Leeds a more established Premier League club and provide the platform to try and break into the coveted European qualification positions. Whoever does it will be remembered for all the right reasons at Leeds, which is why Radrizzani may instruct the cranes to be in place outside the ground the day after this season ends.
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
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