Leeds were deducted 15 points for breaching insolvency rules when they went into administration after they were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time at the end of last season.

They appealed against the sanction but the club said in a statement that the independent arbitration panel appointed by the Football Association ruled that it should stand and that there would be no further appeals.

Leeds, Champions League semi-finalists seven years ago, overcame the 15-point handicap to secure a playoff place with one match of the regular season remaining but had they had some or all of the docked points returned, could have been catapulted into an automatic promotion position.

The decision is also good news for Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle, who remain in the hunt for the second automatic promotion place. -- REUTERS