Leeds United's CEO Angus Kinnear has urged the club's staff to stick together following their play-off defeat to Derby - and offered pizza in an attempt to improve morale.

Angus Kinnear's email to despondent staff was leaked on Friday after being sent in the wake of the club's disappointing 4-3 aggregate defeat to Derby County in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

Leeds had occupied the automatic promotion places for much of the campaign but stumbled in the run-in, picking up one point from their last four league games.

Leeds United's Luke Ayling reflects the general disappointment after their shock play-off loss

And a shock defeat to Derby having won the first leg at the iPro 1-0 has compounded a miserable finale for the Whites, but CEO Kinnear encouraged staff to keep their heads held high.

'I am sure like me that you feel pretty s*** this morning and it is natural to be down today,' Kinnear wrote on Thursday in an email to all club staff, as revealed by Iain Williamson on Twitter.

'However, this no time for self pity. We should all reflect on the great season we have had both on and off the pitch.

'Whilst we have not realised our dream this year we have created the foundations which mean we will ultimately achieve it.

Kinnear went on to point out that this season has been Leeds' most successful in the Championship for a decade and that the club and academy have been reinvigorated.

Pablo Hernandez (R) is consoled by Stuart Dallas after Derby won out 4-2 at Elland Road

He outlined his determination to go again next season.

'Leeds United will never do things the easy way and we all know that we will have to achieve our goal with the world against us,' he added.

'This will make our success all the sweeter.

'We will be ordering pizza for lunch at Elland Road in what I accept will be a futile attempt to improve morale.'