Leeds stadium expansion: ‘My biggest fear could become reality at Elland Road’

Leeds United have secured promotion to the Premier League and have been granted permission to expand their Elland Road home.

The Whites have submitted plans to increase the ground’s capacity from 37,645 to about 56,500 – making it England’s seventh-largest football stadium.

Leeds beat Stoke City 6-0 on Monday (21 April) with Burnley’s win over Sheffield United later that day securing both clubs’ promotion automatically.

It has been reported that construction work could start on Elland Road’s West Stand in the next 12 months.

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has revealed his “biggest fear for Leeds” as they plot development.

Elland Road expansion could prove ‘unsettling’ at Leeds, says Wyness

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed the challenge of combining promotion with replacing CEO Angus Kinnear and rebuilding their stadium could prove too much.

Leeds spent two seasons outside the top-flight before securing their return to the Premier League.

Wyness insisted an expansion of 20,000 seats is “one hell of an increase”.

He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It’s going to happen, I’m sure.

“20,000 seats is one hell of an increase. They’ll have to do it bit by bit, and it’s going to cost £100million – and they’ll be able to fund that.

“My worry with Leeds is that there are a lot of moving parts.

“You’ve got the CEO, Angus Kinnear, going to Everton. There’s the redevelopment at the stadium, it’s a big task.

“There’s going to be movement in the squad.

“There’ll have to be a new thing done in terms of how they handle the Premier League – it’s going to be much different than the Championship.

“They’ll have to add staff.

“I was always very conscious that you can only load up so much change at a club at one time.

“It’s unsettling. The challenge may involve too many moving parts, and that’s my biggest fear for Leeds.”

Leeds appoint new transfer guru

Meanwhile, Football Insider revealed on Wednesday (23 April) that Leeds head of football operations Adam Underwood will take charge of the club’s transfers this summer.

The 43-year-old is poised to widen his role at Elland Road as a defacto sporting director with Nick Hammond expected to leave the club to join Everton.

Leeds are well placed to win the title ahead of Burnley with two games of this season left to play.