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The tragedy of Leeds

Year after year I have said that this is the year in which Leeds United must go up to the Premier League. Instead, after 16 seasons, they face another year in the Championship. It's an almost Shakespearean tragedy.

Leeds is a vibrant city, a regional capital, surely deserving of a Premier League team. But, of course, it doesn't work like that. Quite why Leeds had failed to capitalise on the success of the city is a matter for their fans to debate.

There is an alternative account of the latest setback. Kieran Maguire of the PriceofFootball has tweeted, 'Have to feel for Leeds tonight, especially with the financial engineering of their opponents which would have triggered a 10/11 point FFP penalty had they not used unusual accounting to sell the ground to the owner and book a £40 million profit.'

The Ugly Game tweeted: 'Even if later found to be compliant, selling your stadium for the primary purpose of beating FFP rules is gaming the system and legalised financial doping. Knowingly gaining an unfair advantage. Cheating, really.'

Derby County would, of course, say that they won on the night through superior football. But Leeds fans at least have cause to be disgruntled.

One can analyse the mistakes and revisit the missed chances, but the play off will always be a lottery and Leeds need to secure an automatic promotion place next time round: Heartbreak at Elland Road

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