Leeds hit with 15 point penalty

[Lionel Ritchie]

So -anyone care to predict with 72 hours at most to D-day what the Arbitration panel are going to do?

Interesting articles here http://www.thefootballnetwork.net/ma...7/st128474.htm and here http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/f...en-816178.html

One article I read the other day suggested that the panel are now considering one question only -were the league right to deduct 15 points from Leeds when they'd already been docked 10 at the arse end of last season. This suggests the panel have no further interest in the argument that LUFC accepted the lawfulness of the punishment when they recieved their "Golden Share". This seems sensible to me as Leeds were being strong-armed.

Some of the whispered solutions are not for the squeamish mind. One mentioned was that Leeds would be promoted along with Swansea and whoever finishes second and the league would pay compensation to those who miss out on competing in the play offs.

That struck me as an odd way to square a circle. I'd have thought that in the scenario that Leeds get the 15 points back and are jumped to second then the league could just compensate whoever it was dropped out of the automatic promotion spot ...and even then maybe only if they don't win the play off. Why discommode three when you only need do so to one ...and when two of those three aren't materially worse off anyway whether Leeds get all or no points back?

[Cymro]

I imagine the tribunal will toe the fence and award 5 points back to Leeds. That way, it keeps Doncaster, Forest and Carlisle's fate as much in their own hands as it is now, while also giving Leeds an outside shot at automatic promotion.

I doubt that outcome will please anyone, but this was never going to result in anyone being pleased anyway, and it might stifle some of the wrath which a more controversial decision would have brought.

In any case, we're up, so I don't really care!

[Plastic Paddy]

That's far too sensible Cymro. Given the half-arsed job they've made so far of deciding the outcome, I can't see the panel buying that at all.

PP

[Lionel Ritchie]

In any case, we're up, so I don't really care!

...and deserve to be! I'm genuinely delighted for the swans

[DmanDmythDledge]

I imagine the tribunal will toe the fence and award 5 points back to Leeds.

There was something on Off The Ball around a month ago saying that arbitration panel will only be deciding whether or not deducting the 15 points was lawful- basically their decision will be to give Leeds back the 15 points or leave things as they are.

[Cymro]

...and deserve to be! I'm genuinely delighted for the swans

Thanks Lionel.

I only wish I could say the same about Leeds if you come up, but........

Well, at least if you do, you'll only be my second least favourite team in the division next year. I'm sure you can guess the first.

Dman etc - I read in the Western Mail (Welsh national daily newspaper) about a week ago that it could be anything between restoring 0 points or 15 points. Still, I'll take that with a pinch of salt, and I won't discount what you said.

[Red&White Rover]

Decision time just half an hour away....Nerves are going a wee bit!

Hopefully Leeds'll get them back....then the party begins!

[DmanDmythDledge]

Unsuccessful

[Cymro]

I'm not particularly surprised. If Leeds had got all their points back and leapfrogged the four teams above them there'd have been outrage amongst the fans of those teams.

I thought Leeds would get 5 points back, but if not I thought it would be this outcome.

Play-offs it is for your boys then, Mr Ritchie.

[Lionel Ritchie]

Play-offs it is for your boys then, Mr Ritchie.

Indeed, that's the end of it. Bring on the play-offs.
No matter what we'll be back.