Paul Merson weighs in on controversial discussion involving Leeds United

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Paul Merson has given his verdict on the prospect of Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion being awarded promotion based on the assumption that they would both have gone up after 46 Championship games, in conversation with Sky Sports.

English football has ground to a standstill in wake of the global health crisis, which has led to much discussion about the various permutations across the leagues.

At present, Leeds occupy top spot in the Championship table on 71 points while West Brom sit second on 70 points, with third-placed Fulham six points behind the Baggies.

All teams in the second tier have played 37 games, nine short of the full regular season, but with serious doubts over whether the 3 April resumption is likely, there are questions of just what to do with the 2019-20 campaign.

One idea would be to simply void the season, but that would be unfair on the likes of Leeds and West Brom, not to mention Liverpool, who are effectively Premier League champions-elect – and there could well be court cases were this option taken.

Likewise, declaring the seasons finished now could possibly also see court action taken by clubs in the relegation zones, who stand to lose out financially were they to drop down a league – while also failing to solve the playoff question.

“Liverpool had won it, we know that, but it’s hard to say to Leeds and West Brom that they’re up,” Merson told Sky Sports. “Fulham have taken gambles on players – they’ve kept Aleksandar Mitrovic and Tom Cairney, they brought Anthony Knockaert in, they took these chances to try and get promoted.

“Brentford next season – if they don’t go up, they will lose their front three. I could run through every club and their problems. Most clubs have taken a gamble and financially this is going to really impact them.

“I don’t think you can have 22 teams, promote West Brom and Leeds and then relegate five next year. And if they declare the season null and void, what are they going to do – give everyone their season ticket back because the season essentially never happened?”

TBR View:

Given the unprecedented halt in proceedings due to an unprecedented health crisis, the number one priority is to keep people safe, but at the same time, the question of what to do with the various competitions needs to be resolved.

It’s a very controversial issue as every possible solution proposed has pros and cons which are bound to affect at least some clubs adversely, and so it’s not a decision that can be taken lightly.

The personal view of the TBR writer is to see the 2019-20 season out when it’s safe to do so, even if it has to be in the summer – it’s important that the campaign, and its permutations, can be fulfilled as intended.