Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani on coronavirus focus and hopes that £200m promotion fight will continue

But speaking to Tuttosport the Whites' Italian owner insisted the discussions over how and when the Championship season would resume are a secondary concern, during the coronavirus pandemic.

Radrizzani has been active on social media, encouraging social distancing and self isolation but allowed his thoughts to return to football in an interview with the Italian newspaper.

He reiterated Leeds' stance that sporting integrity should be maintained by completing the league campaign when it is possible to do so, even, he says, if that means playing behind closed doors.

“We are fighting for the promotion worth more than 200 million and it is also a very important thing for the club because we have been missing from the Premier League for 16 years,” he said.

“For the last two years, we’ve done a superb job. We deserve success on the pitch: I hope that there will be a chance soon to finish the season.

“With a month and a half of time you can finish, even less. There are nine games you could play in June or even behind closed doors on Sunday and Wednesday, as often happens.

“The priority is to guarantee and protect the sporting outcome in respect of the fans and the investments made.”

But he would not be drawn further on how the football calendar could be organised beyond that.

Radrizzani's native country has suffered more than 10,000 deaths due to the COVID-19 outbreak and he says that is what must continue to pull focus.

“At a personal level these days I am not thinking about this situation I am connected with Italy and the rest of the world monitoring a huge world crisis, which has resulted in a shocking number of deaths, unfortunately destined to grow," he said.

“Every other discourse takes second place: first we must return life to normal, respecting governments, health institutions and their needs.”

Leeds United have taken a number of measures to safeguard their players and staff during the crisis.

Players are working from home, with gym equipment supplied by the club, while the club's shops and ticket office have closed.

Senior management, first team and coaching staff have also taken wage deferrals to safeguard the employment of hundreds of non-playing staff members.