Fears that Leeds’s promotion push might be derailed by the potential closure of Eleven Sports UK, the streaming service run by the club’s owner, Andrea Radrizzani, appear unfounded.
Senior figures at Elland Road are understood to be confident that, for the remainder of this season at least, any closure would make no material difference to Marcelo Bielsa’s plans. The former Argentina and Chile manager has led Leeds to second place in the Championship, one point behind Norwich, leaving them on course for the automatic promotion to the Premier League which would transform their finances.
Leeds run at an operating loss, according to their most recent accounts. Although there is confidence that Eleven’s difficulties will not affect events on the pitch, the owner has always made it clear he would not be prepared to remain at the helm of a Football League club for too long.
As recently as August Radrizzani said: “If I don’t go up to the Premier League after a few years then I’ll sell, because it means my cycle is done and someone else should do it. This is a loss-making league and it’s not fun to put money every year into a business that loses money.”
Radrizzani finalised a takeover of Leeds in May last year, replacing Massimo Cellino, and is a critic of the Football League’s £595m TV deal with Sky, believing it has undersold the Championship.
Although Eleven has contracts in countries across the world, the possible closure of its UK network may give Radrizzani more of an incentive to win promotion – and, with it, access to the Premier League’s gargantuan broadcast deal – this season. There is speculation this may prompt the owner to offer Bielsa a little extra scope for investment during next month’s transfer window.
