Planet Swans ArchivesNotification was sent to the Swans this afternoon to advise that the trophy will not be presented this weekend as they are not able to confirm until May 1 the outcome of the Leeds arbitration hearing. That decision will eventually decide that fate of the League One title with the Swans currently showing on some tables as Champions but that could yet be snatched away from them.
The cynics will openly tell you that there will be some collusion somewhere and Leeds will get back a sum of points that will effectively mean that instead of finishing a likely 6th they will finish 3rd meaning just a reverse of the two play off venues in the semi finals whilst Leeds fans will continue to tell you that the decision not to present the trophy clearly means that they will get all fifteen points back. Although quite how they work that out is beyond most people's common sense.
The club had asked the football league if they could have their trophy on Saturday but the response came back this afternoon "Following legal advice, The Football League can confirm that it will not present the League 1 trophy to SwanseaCity at their match with Leyton Orient on Saturday due to the ongoing arbitration hearing involving Leeds United.
"The Panel in the hearing have committed to provide a verdict on or before May 1st and The League has been advised not to engage in any actions which might be misconstrued or viewed as pre-empting the arbitration process in any way.''
Victory for the Swans on Saturday coupled with a defeat for Leeds will ensure the League One title is Swansea's anyway unless of course Leeds fans think that they deserve more than fifteen points back for some reason or another? Who knows.
Either way I remain confident that it is just a matter of time before the Swans are confirmed as League One champions although it could end up being a low key ceremony probably in Rossis! And Bet Direct have still paid out on such an eventuality – the league title that is not a ceremony in Rossis.
Nothing is ever simple!!
