Mark Jackson expressed his delighted after seeing his Under 23s side defeat Aston Villa, to secure the Premier League 2 Division 2 title on Friday evening.

The Whites only needed a point going into the match to win the league and secure promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1, but they did it in style by claiming all three away from home.

Sam Greenwood and Jack Jenkins got the goals, as Leeds won the league with games to spare.

“We are delighted,” Jackson told LUTV after the match.  

“You can probably still hear in the changing rooms there that the boys are made up. They are celebrating and quite rightly so. 

“It’s a fantastic achievement from a group of players who have played all season, set their targets, and have achieved them with games to spare as well. 

‘I am made up for the players throughout the season and for the club as well because it’s important, it is a massive team effort from the players in the squad and also the staff as well.

“Not just the coaching staff, but the recruitment staff as well and everyone who is associated with the team have done really, really well.

“We all sat together on Monday to watch the Palace and Stoke game, we didn’t get the result which meant we won the league then. 

“Deep down we wanted to win it on our own terms, in this game. We knew it was going to be tough, I thought we controlled the game for long periods.

“The focus of the players going into the game was fantastic and we came out the traps really sharp and on the front foot.” 

Gaining promotion in their first year in the division is a superb achievement for the Whites, who now want to keep progressing to be ready for the challenges next season will bring, at a higher level. 

Jackson explained: “That’s what we wanted. The club achieved Category One status and progressed into the league we are in now, so that is the next step. 

“As a club, at every level we want to grow and play against the best opposition. Ultimately, when players play against better opposition and the best in the country, they are going to get better. 

“Those challenges are what we are striving for as a club, we will look forward to those challenges next season in the league above.”