One game down, forty-five to go as far as the 24 teams in the Championship is concerned, but what did the opening weekend of fixtures tell us? Many regard Doncaster’s 1-0 win at Derby as the performance of the weekend, but that’s only working on the assumption that Rovers were playing League One football last term, while their opponents were in the top flight. [Read the rest of this entry »]

This is not a Leeds-baiting article. Far from it, COS thinks it’s a damn shame what’s been allowed to happen to this football club over the past few seasons, which has resulted in a double relegation, administration, desperation, frustration and now consolidation. Fans of the club thought that it might be a case of celebration after Ken Bates & Co appealed against their fifteen point deduction made at the start of the season, but Sky Sports report they’ll will have to tough it out in the play-offs if they are to be promoted this season.

Whatever the rights and wrongs were surrounding this deduction (which were in addition to the ten points docked towards the end of last season), it would have been one thing restoring some or all of the deficit in the early part of the season but not when there’s only one match of the regular season remaining. It simply wouldn’t have been fair to the likes of Carlisle, Doncaster and Nottingham Forest, teams who are on the verge of securing promotion through that second automatic spot.

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators have therefore made the correct decision and it’s safe to assume that part of their thinking was an overturning of points would have almost certainly led to a series of counter-appeals by some or all of the teams mentioned above. The Football League will also breathe a sigh of relief that they have been found not guilty of acting unfairly towards Leeds in deducting the fifteen points.

United have a chance to now secure promotion to the Championship and will be favourites on the basis of their recent form, their huge following and perhaps the burning sense of injustice being felt at the club right now after this decision.

Just as you thought their fall from grace was complete and they were focusing on climbing back up the football league, Leeds United are still refusing to let things lie.

Seemingly taking a leaf from the Sheffield United book of ‘How To Fight A Court Case You Won’t Win And Tarnish Your Reputation At The Same Time’, the Yorkshire club are still fighting the Football League for their 15 point deduction which occurred back in August 2007.

An independent tribunal considering the penalty is set to start today. The three-man panel reviewing the deduction is expected to make their ruling before Leeds travel to Millwall on the 19th of April, and if they receive all 15 points back, a win at The New Den would clinch 2nd place and automatic promotion back to The Championship.

If that were to happen League One promotion rivals Carlisle United and Doncaster Rovers have already said they will start legal proceedings and may more could follow suit.

However, the chances of that happen is slim but, according to leading sports lawyer Richard Cramer, it is still possible for Leeds:

A few weeks ago, I thought it was bleak, but having seen the legal documents, I think the prospects have improved. I think there’s probably a 25-30% chance of winning.

They may carve it up – they might say ‘Well hold on, 15 points is too much, we’ve got to give them something’ and bring it down to eight, seven or six.”