CHAMPIONES! – Leeds get no points returned

After a week of hanging on waiting for the suits to make a decision it was made at 5pm this evening that there would be no points return after the league deducted 15 points before the start of the season.

A statement released via Leeds United official website read

The three man arbitration panel ('the panel') appointed by The Football Association in respect of the above mentioned appeal has rejected Leeds United's arguments that the 15 point deduction was unlawful.

In making the decision the panel took into account the detailed submissions made by both parties (Leeds United and the Football League). 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 the 30th August 2007 onwards.

We did accept the imposed condition of a 15-point penalty subject to an appeal to Member clubs. As at the 3rd August 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. Any request by the club to alter the wording of the agreement by the Football League, as the Tribunal recognised, would have been rejected by the Board in any event so to reiterate, we had no option but to agree. It is both noticeable and significant that the panel saw fit to suggest that the Football League should look to incorporate into its Insolvency Policy clear guidelines, objectives and procedures going forward so as to make sure no other club has to be subjected to what we have had to endure if they are unable to secure the completion of a CVA.

The statement also said that it was the end of the matter and Leeds attention must now turn to the play offs whilst the party celebrations can finally start here in Swansea

CHAMPIONES!