Andrea Radrizzani hopes for change in ‘unfair’ parachute payments

admin
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani believes Premier League parachute payments should be changed to make the Sky Bet Championship fairer.Parachute payments have risen sharply over the last decade in line with huge new Premier League broadcast deals and the Italian feels the gap between relegated clubs and those already in the Championship has grown too big.

“I think you mentioned correctly that this is unfair,” Radrizzani told BBC Sport.

“I imagine in two years’ time we will have nine clubs with £100million budgets and the other 15 clubs with much less budgets, so we play different leagues.

“I think that this maybe, at a certain point, should be regulated in a way that can close the gap.”

Radrizzani, who completed his buy-out of former owner Massimo Cellino in May, said he had invested £100million in the club.

“But at the same time I’m focused on my team. I believe football is much more than money,” he said.

“It’s been shown in the last two years with clubs like Reading and Huddersfield reaching the (Championship play-off) final at Wembley, it’s been shown in the Premier League with Leicester.

“Budget and money are important, but I think the project, the team, the motivation we have, the conviction we have, the quality of player we have, we can make it with a lower budget, if we are convinced and work very hard for that.”

Radrizzani, who bought back Elland Road from private investors in June, said a top-six finish was the club’s minimum target this season.

“We need to compete at the top of the league and be in the top six,” he added. “A play-off place is the minimum requirement.

“I’d welcome promotion as a nice surprise but our target is the play-offs.”