Leeds receive 15 point deduction.

Leeds United will start the League One season with a 15 points deduction it was announced this evening.

Recently it seemed to be in doubt whether the Football League would transfer the Football League share to Leeds (2007) Ltd, to allow them to participate in the League at all, but the package announced the share was transferred. The Football League added the proviso that they will be able to start the season under the condition they accept a 15 point deduction.

Leeds United have decided to appeal the sanction and therefore have put their participation back in jeopardy.

The club's official statement said:

'We are pleased to announce that the board of the Football League Ltd have agreed to transfer the share in the Football League to Leeds United 2007 Ltd.

'The Football League have transferred the share in 'exceptional circumstances' and have imposed a 15-point penalty for the start of the 2007/08 season. The club have appealed against this sanction. The timescale for the appeal is not yet known.'

Leeds'transfer embargo has also been lifted and the club announced they will now finalise their rebuilding for the season albeit late in the day.

Last season, Rotherham United started the season with a 10 point deduction after going into administration, and after an initially good effort to overcome the handicap, fell away and were relegated.