Chesterfield will receive six-figure sum after Leeds United seal promotion to Premier League
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The Spireites sold Liam Cooper to the Whites in 2014 for £600,000 and inserted a clause in the paperwork which would entitle them to an additional six-figure sum if Leeds won promotion to the top flight and if the defender made a certain number of appearances.
The Whites’ return to the top flight after 16 years away was sealed on Friday night after West Brom’s defeat to Huddersfield Town.
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Hide AdCooper, 28, has made 37 appearances for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season so it is believed the Blues will get the much-needed windfall.
At this stage it is unclear whether the money will go to current owner Dave Allen or if the Chesterfield FC Community Trust could benefit if they complete a takeover of the club soon.
Spireites company secretary, Ashley Carson, previously confirmed: “We do have a clause that pays us a significant bonus if they gain promotion to the Premier League. As you can imagine, the contract is subject to confidentiality, no surprise, but it is a six-figure figure sum.”
Cooper came to the attention of Leeds in 2014 during a pre-season friendly.
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Hide AdCooper’s agent Steve Blatherwick, himself a former Chesterfield centre-half, said: “They were really impressed with him that game, he had a worldie.”
Leeds initially offered £500,000 for Cooper but Chesterfield told them to double their offer.
The West Yorkshire club came back with another offer of £600,000, to be paid in two installments, with a number of add-ons, but this was also turned down.
The third bid was £600,000 paid in full plus the add-ons, according to Graham Bean, who was Leeds’ club consultant at the time and who later became chief executive at Chesterfield in 2018 before leaving last year.
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Hide AdLeeds, captained by Cooper, will be playing in the Premier League next season for the first time since 2004.
Bielsa’s men suffered play-off heartache last year but have recovered impressively to secure an automatic promotion spot with an attractive and relentless style of play.