Burnley and Leeds United have now triggered Newcastle United windfall worth millions | OneFootball

Newcastle United are now guaranteed to bank a windfall of millions, thanks to Burnley and Leeds United.

Yet another example of the many strange ways that football finance works these days.

Who benefits and who doesn’t.

On this occasion, Newcastle United a rare beneficiary, along with other Premier League clubs.

On Monday, the third last round of Championship matches were played.

If Leeds won against Stoke and Burnley defeated Sheffield United, then both Leeds United and Burnley would be automatically promoted with two rounds of games still to play.

Leeds United went 5-0 up after 41 minutes had been played, coasted through the second half and beat Stoke 6-0.

Burnley did it the harder way against promotion rivals Sheffield United. Managed by former Newcastle midfielder Scott Parker, Burnley took a first half lead, Sheff Utd equalised, then Parker’s team scored what turned out to be the promotion clinching goal just before the break.

So this is how the Championship top end of the table now looks on Tuesday morning with just two rounds of games to play

(***Sheffield United were deducted two points. The penalty relating to the Blades defaulting on payments to other clubs during the 2022-23 season)

As you can see, Burnley and Leeds United can’t be caught in the automatic promotion places, whilst Sheffield United are guaranteed third and Sunderland fourth.

The other two play-off places to be decided but in the semi-finals of those play-offs, Sheffield United will play the club that ends up sixth, the Mackems facing the team that finishes fifth. So Sheffield United and Sunderland very likely to face each other in the play-off final.

Ahead of Monday’s matches, football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained how wins for both Leeds United and Burnley would trigger a £m windfall for Newcastle United and other Premier League clubs:

“When Leicester and Southampton were relegated in 2022/23 and promoted the following season, £102m in parachute payments were saved…these savings have been split between Premier League clubs.

Should Burnley and Leeds be promoted today then a further £51m will be saved…this will also be divided between PL clubs.’

This is how the Premier League parachute payments are now paid out:

‘Parachute payments are a percentage of the equal share of broadcast revenue each Premier League club receives. The first year, the payment is 55%, the second year 45%, and the third year 20%.’

Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League in 2022/23, whilst both Burnley and Sheffield United were relegated in 2023/24.

So if indeed Sheffield United and Sunderland do meet in the play-off final, more than one reason for Newcastle United fans to be cheering on the Blades.

As well as defeat for the Mackems ensuring the wait for Tyne and Wear derbies would extend to at least ten years, if Sunderland lost to Sheffield United in the play-off final it would guarantee more £millions for Newcastle United (and other Premier League clubs), as the parachute payment money Sheffield United would have banked, will be instead added to the payouts already triggered by Burnley and Leeds United.