Leeds United boost as £40m pot could double in Championship play-offs | OneFootball

Leeds United could receive a financial lift if parachute money returns to the Premier League pot, with up to £80m redistributed should Southampton join Ipswich Town in going up, according to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.

Ipswich sealed automatic promotion on Saturday with a 3-0 win over Queens Park Rangers, pipping Millwall and Southampton to second. Southampton, Millwall, Hull City and Middlesbrough contest the play-offs, with first legs this weekend.

Ipswich and Southampton were relegated last year and received parachute payments on their Championship return. The scheme cushions the revenue drop after relegation. Leeds took two instalments after 2023 relegation, waiving a third after promotion.

Ahead of this season, Ipswich and Southampton each received 55 per cent of the Premier League equal-share broadcast pot, £89m last term, just under £49m each. This summer it would drop to 45 per cent, around £40m each. With Ipswich promoted, their £40m returns to be shared among Leeds and the other 19 clubs.

If Southampton win promotion via the play-offs, their second-year £40m would also be redistributed, putting roughly £80m back into the pot, about £4m per club. Neither club would be due a third instalment after a single season back in the top flight.

Leeds are expected to bank over £100m in broadcast income this season, including equal-share and domestic and international commercial revenue. Merit payments add to that, with each league place worth just under £3m. Last term 14th earned £18.6m and 10th £29.1m, an incentive as they finish against Tottenham, Brighton and West Ham.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk