By the time you read this, Leeds United will have been involved in a relegation six-pointer against Southampton.
I was going to leave a space here to write in the result, and a couple of lines about what it means. But, to be honest, it doesn’t really make much difference. We’re doomed.
But doomed is all relative. We’ve been through some tough, tough times in the last 20-odd years. Taken to the brink really, by a set of gamblers who mortgaged the club’s future and nearly – nearly – did us in.
Leeds United are not on their own in that. Some big, long-established clubs are hovering on the edge. Some household names went under.
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It’s getting on for four years ago since I wrote about Bury and the trouble they were in. They ended up being expelled from the Football League, 125 years gone in the blink of an eye.
Last year’s Football Distress Survey, run by corporate rescue specialists Begbies Traynor, showed 31 clubs in the league – 43% of the total – were in financial distress.
So finally, finally, after years of work it’s a relief to see the government taking action.
There’s already been some kickback against their proposals to reform the way football and football clubs are run, from the usual suspects of course.
The Institute of Economic Affairs were out: “The Government’s plans for a football regulator will limit investment, restrict competition and hold back development across the leagues.
“Fan vetoes will give power to supporters’ groups who are often unrepresentative and could hold back much needed reforms, such as ground changes, which would ultimately benefit clubs.”
God help us. Imagine giving fans a say. It’s that sort of attitude that’s pervaded football for a long time now. Actual fans being a problem, holding back progress (progress in this case being rinsing clubs for cash).
In that demented Super League breakaway they tried a couple of years ago, they identified ‘legacy fans’ as a problem, a nuisance. Legacy fans being, you know, people who support their club, who’ve been going to games for a long time. People whose parents took them and they in turn take their kids.
Anyways, this new government stuff is the best thing I can think of them doing for a long, long time. (Obviously that doesn’t include stuff like support for Ukraine and all that. You know what I mean.)
In a nutshell, stopping English clubs breaking away to form leagues, tighter financial controls, better ownership test and – finally – a fairer distribution of Premier League cash.
There’s lots more to do, of course, but it’s a great start.
And well done to Tracey Crouch, of course, whose work laid the foundations.
Nothing in there, of course, that’s going to improve Leeds United’s season. That, I’m afraid, is beyond any legislation…