Paul Merson outlines Leeds United wish and opens up on affection for Whites

Merson had plenty of battles with Leeds at first Arsenal and then Aston Villa during United's Premier League days in the 1990s and the first few years of the new Millennium.

Now 52 years old, the Sky Sports and Gillette Soccer Saturday pundit hopes he will be reporting on United playing games back in the country's top flight for the first time since 2004 next term.

One year on from last season's heartache in the Championship's play-offs, Bielsa's Whites sit top of the Championship and one point above West Brom and holding a seven-point cushion in the automatic promotion spots with nine games left.

Fulham and Brentford heading the chasing pack and while the the Championship campaign remains suspended amidst the country's fight against coronavirus, the EFL are still hoping that all remaining fixtures will be played.

If not, the EFL's framework would have Leeds promoted as champions via their points per game model and Merson feels United have already done more than enough to warrant a place back in the big time.

"Under Marcelo Bielsa, it looked as if they'd do it 12 months ago only for them to run out of gas at the death," said Merson in his Daily Star column.

"But when football went into lockdown in March, they'd arrested a slump which threatened a second successive implosion and looked good for promotion.

"I know the likes of Fulham and Brentford won't agree but if Leeds and West Brom go up, I'll have no complaints at all.

"They've been the two best sides in the Championship this year and look good value for promotion.

"Remember the song? We all hate Leeds.

"Well, it sounds very old hat now because everyone I know is dying to see Leeds back where they belong in the Premier League.

"Whatever is decided in the days ahead, I'm keeping my fingers crossed it works out for the famous Yorkshire club who've been in the doldrums for far too long."

Opening up on his thoughts about United's history and his own playing days against Leeds, Merson said: "It's incredible to think you've got to be well into your twenties to remember Leeds rubbing shoulders with the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.

"And a whole generation of fans in that part of the world have grown up not knowing what it's like to see their favourite team on Match of the Day.

"Personally, I've never had anything against Leeds. In fact, I quite liked the club because I always seemed to do well against them.

"But I was in a minority because when they did go down in 2004, everyone had a good laugh.

"They picked up their “dirty Leeds” reputation in the 60s and 70s when they were one of the best teams in the land.

"But if they were always right up there at the top of the table in terms of result, they'd be bottom in a popularity contest.

"That changed when they had that good young side around the Millennium but then they started throwing cash around as if it was going out of fashion and that's when a lot of people went off them.

"Remember that story of Seth Johnson signing for them? His agent told him to hold out for a certain salary only for the club to immediately offer him double that figure.

"That summed up the mess Leeds were in.

"It couldn't last and eventually they got their comeuppance, crashing out of the Premier League and even being relegated from the Championship and spending a couple of years in the third tier.

"There have been some very dark times at Elland Road but through thin and thinner, the fans have stuck by them and they really deserve to see top flight football again after so long.

"When that place is rocking, it really is one of the game's most passionate arenas."

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