[LU] Leeds Utd facing wait for verdict

[John Boocock]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7354091.stm


Leeds Utd facing wait for verdict


Leeds United might have to wait until the end of the season to find out 
if their appeal against their 15-point penalty has been successful.

An independent tribunal considering the deduction will go into a fourth 
day of deliberation on Monday.

Sir Phillip Otton, chairman of the three-man panel, said the verdict 
might not be delivered for another three or four weeks.

That could be as late as 19 May, with Leeds' final league game on 3 May.

BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope said: "What we do know is that the 
arbitration is going to go into a fourth day.

"It was meant to finish on Friday but it's now going to go to the end of 
next Monday when closing submissions from the Football League and Leeds 
United will be submitted.

"Leeds are saying that the 15-point sanction is unlawful and last night 
I was told by chambers that Sir Phillip Otton said that the verdict will 
be given three to four weeks after the last day of the hearing."

The panel could back the Football League's ruling and uphold the penalty 
or if they find the penalty unlawful they may reinstate all 15 points.

Another option could see the panel return a proportion of the lost 
points, with five being the most likely added to Leeds' current total of 67.

Leeds are demanding a maximum return of points, as they see the 
punishment as disproportionate.

The West Yorkshire club had already been docked 10 points for originally 
entering administration while still in the Championship, so in total 
they have had 25 points taken off them.

If Ken Bates' club were to receive all 15 points back, as things stand 
they would move up to second in League One and could clinch automatic 
promotion back to the Championship with a win at Millwall on Saturday.

However, this outcome would upset other League One clubs.

Promotion hopefuls Carlisle United and Doncaster Rovers have already 
hinted they would take legal action if the hearing ruled in Leeds' favour.

Pope said: "Unless they come out with a quicker verdict, we're not going 
to know who's going to be promoted automatically, who's going to be in 
the playoffs and who's going to miss out come the end of the season.

"According to this timescale we're not going to know any of that until 
the earliest date, which is 12 May."