Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has warned Norwich City sporting director Stuart Webber not to venture anywhere near Elland Road after he suggested Leeds should not be promoted this season if the season is not concluded.
Webber made the claim on Sky Sports' Football Show this morning, as promotion from the Championship and relegation from the Premier League was heavily discussed. Leeds, of course, currently sit top of the Championship table and are nervously awaiting news from the EFL.
Webber, who has been highly praised in recent years for the strategic transfer dealings that the Canaries have concluded, said that Leeds should only be promoted to the Premier League if the remaining nine Championship fixtures are played - something which remains impossible to predict amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Webber told Sky Sports: "The Championship has to start and play all their games also. What we could not accept is a situation where we play out all our games, get relegated, but then the Championship can’t play and they automatically promote some teams who haven’t finished the season.
"It’s a 46 or 49-game slog. It’s a bit like saying the FA Cup finishes now, we can’t finish it, we’re in the quarter-finals, we’ve [Norwich] beaten a top-six Championship side and Premier League sides, does that mean we win the FA Cup, all get a medal and qualify for Europe?
"If the season didn’t restart, that would be my honest opinion (that Leeds and West Brom stay in the Championship). In the non-league, they’ve already said there is no promotion or relegation, so I don’t know how you can change the rules. I don’t think that’s fair and I don’t think anyone can think that’s right.
"To be honest, I’m a Leeds fan and I had a season ticket for ten years. We all want Leeds back in the Premier League, any true fan believes they should be back, but they have to do it on the pitch."
Webber's claims, as you would expect, were immediately blasted by Leeds' supporters, who did not tend to agree with his statement.
And alongside Webber on the show was Sky Sports' Gary Neville, who, as a tongue in-cheek comment, offered Webber a bit of friendly advice in relation to what he had just said.
“I suggest you stay clear of Leeds, they’re a bit of a hostile bunch!," Neville admitted.
