Leeds fail in bid to get points back

An independent tribunal has upheld the Football League's 15-point penalty imposed on Leeds at the start of the season.

A three-day hearing reached its conclusion behind closed doors on Thursday in London where Leeds failed to convince a three-man panel that the League acted unfairly when docking the points as punishment for breaking competition rules on insolvency.

The hearing's decision to rule in the League's favour sees Leeds stay in sixth place in Coca-Cola League One - and they must now hope to secure promotion via a play-off place.

The verdict will be met with huge celebration by Swansea, Doncaster, Carlisle and Nottingham Forest, who had all been braced for possible legal action had the three-man panel overturned Leeds' sanction.

If Leeds had been handed back all 15 points they would have jumped from sixth to second, ousting Doncaster from an automatic promotion spot, while Swansea would not have been assured of the League One title.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates confirmed he would accept the tribunal's findings, but was aggrieved at its criticism of Leeds for the delay in bringing about the action.

A club statement said: "In making the decision the panel took into account the detailed submissions made by both parties.

"The panel were critical of the length of time taken by Leeds United in bringing this action to have the 15-point decision overturned.

"We feel this finding is unjust as the club sought to oppose the imposition of the penalty from August 30, 2007 onwards. We did accept the imposed condition of a 15-point penalty subject to an appeal to member clubs.

"As at August 3, 2007 we had no option but to do so. If we had not the club would have been lost forever, which was far too big a price for anyone to pay. It is galling therefore that we are criticised for the delay in bringing the appeal when it was delays by the Football League that effectively backed us into this corner in the first place."