With deal provisionally agreed, promotion failure could be best for Leeds

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Leeds United may ultimately benefit from missing out on the play-offs.

Leeds manager Garry Monk

Leeds United’s play-off dream is not dead yet but it looks more unlikely than it has done for months.

With just two games to go Leeds are reliant on winning their final two matches and then requiring other results to go their way. It is possible, but they are listed with SkyBet as 9/2 outsiders for a reason just to land a top six spot.

Missing out on the play-offs would be immensely disappointing for Leeds, but as far as the bigger picture goes – it might be the best outcome.

Boardroom changes

Leeds owner Massimo Cellino sold 50 per cent of his stake to Andrea Radrizzani in early January, and SkySports reported at the time that a provisional deal is in place for him to buy the final 50 per cent this summer.

Cellino’s unorthodox approach at Leeds has generated negative press but it has been far from disastrous even though his methods have upset many and drawn protests.

Last summer Cellino told La Nuevo Sardegna he would give up and sell the club if they did not win promotion, and with a deal in place with Radrizzani, he has a chance to stay good to his word.

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino in the stands

The Independent reported that Cellino could be tempted to make a U-turn and stay and reap the financial rewards if Leeds won promotion, which realistically would make sense. Why sell the very moment there is serious money to be made and fun to be had?

Another season of toil in the Championship was not what he had hoped for. So a full sale would seem likely.

It requires serious investment for clubs to make it out of England’s second tier, and Cellino has not demonstrated having the resources to do so.

Andrea Radrizzani did not seize the opportunity in January, a decision he may regret, but he is vastly wealthy and deserves to be judged only when he is standing on his own two feet as sole owner, for it is unclear who had what say regarding the club’s poor January transfer business.

General view of a protest against Leeds owner Massimo Cellino

If missing out on promotion means Leeds can cut the cord with the Cellino era and start afresh, it could be best for the club in the long run.

Radrizzani will clearly have a plan, and should be allowed to progress with it unhindered.

A hard season will lie ahead, with serious challenges in the summer to keep hold of their head coach and top players, but looking at the wider picture, there are reasons for fans to be positive that their club is moving forward.