Comparative: Leeds United’s wage bill vs Championship rivals as three relegated sides drop

“All we want is to make sure we have a sustainable and competitive EFL and obviously you see the cliff edge between the Premier League and the Championship with the parachute clubs going down, getting something like £50m in the first year and £40 million. odd in the second year, being relegated.

“We have teams at the top of our division paying five times more wages than (Preston) and that shows because they are at the top of the Championship – and they are doing it on the basis of parachute payments coming down from the Premier League.

“The top three teams are Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich, then Southampton are fourth. Three of the four fell last year and received parachute payments. If we don’t keep it competitive and sustainable, then English football is over.”

In comparison: Leeds’ wage bill against the rest of the Championship

There is little argument to be made against the fact that recently relegated teams have an inherent advantage in their ability to spend more than their rivals who have been in the EFL for years, and that shows in wage costs.