Roy Hodgson makes Leeds United admission and calls for resolution which would pave way for Whites

Thereafter, the former England boss feels the current Premier League and EFL seasons must be properly completed to avoid an "artificial" end to the current campaign.

Hodgson's side sit 11th in the country's top flight but both the Premier League and EFL seasons have been indefinitely suspended amidst the current fight against coronavirus,

In the Championship, front-runners Leeds are nine games away from finally sealing a return to the Premier League and top flight football for the first time since 2004.

Last season's near miss was followed by the 'Leeds United Take Us Home' documentary which Hodgson has been watching during the current pause.

But when it is safe to do so, the Palace boss feels the English season needs properly completing rather than being settled by other methods - as has been the case in other European competitions and the lower rungs of English non league.

Speaking in a message to Crystal Palace's supporters on the club's official website, Hodgson gave an insight into how he has been spending his evenings and said: "I’ve finally got round to watching several interesting documentaries from various football clubs.

"I watched Manchester City’s All or Nothing, then Leeds United’s Take Us Home which I very much enjoyed.

"I found a Maradona documentary, then caught up with the one done some while ago with QPR’s Four Year Plan, which was a bit of a debacle!

"Now I’m halfway through Sunderland ‘til I Die.

"It’s been bringing it home to me watching these documentaries, even more so than usual, the incredible passion of football fans, and how people really live for football.

"There are lots of forms of entertainment, but the one form that really does bring everyone together is football.

"Everybody is surely missing the game enormously, and like us, I’m sure they will be hopeful that every effort is being placed on bringing it back as soon as possible, once it’s safe to do so."

Hodgson added: "Everyone is in total agreement we need an end to this season. We don’t want artificial means of deciding who wins the league, who gets into the Champions League, who gets relegated and promoted.

"Ideally our players would have three or four weeks’ minimum to prepare for the first match back, but I accept there may have to be a squeeze on that timeframe.

"It might mean extra restrictions at our place of work - the training ground - for example.

"It may also mean that we have to play our nine remaining matches in a shorter period of time than we normally would have done, and subsequently receive a shorter break between the seasons.

"But I think with all of these sacrifices – and I am uncomfortable using that word in such a context - everyone will be more than happy to go along with what it takes in order to get playing again as soon as possible in order to get the season finished."

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website.

These are challenging times but the team at the Yorkshire Evening Post need your support more than ever in the weeks ahead.

While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you - wherever possible and providing it is safe for you to do so - to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Inevitably falling advertising revenues will start to have an impact on local newspapers and the way we continue to work during this period of uncertainty.

So the support of our readers has never been more important as we try to make sure that we keep you connected with the city you live in during this time.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. We need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Our team of trusted reporters are working incredibly hard behind the scenes - from kitchen tables and spare bedrooms - to look at how we can do this and your continued support to the YEP will help to protect its viability in the days and weeks ahead.

For more details on our subscription offers please visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk/YEP, email [email protected] or call us on 0330 4033004

Thank you

Laura Collins

Editor

READ MORE: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/opinion/were-therewithyou-now-your-yep-needs-your-support-too-laura-collins-yep-editor-2521777