Leeds have lost their appeal against the Football League's decision to dock them 15 points.
Whites must start season with 15-point deduction
Leeds have lost their appeal against the Football League's decision to dock them 15 points.
The Yorkshire club were granted their Football League share late last week, enabling them to start the new League One season against Tranmere this weekend.
They were told they must accept a 15-point penalty in order to take their place in the division but immediately lodged an appeal.
Chairman Ken Bates had been hoping the Football League would agree to a compromise and cut the deficit, but the board has stood its ground.
Overwhelming
"Leeds United presented their appeal and why they thought the board was wrong," Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney told
Sky Sports News.
"We then had a vote, in which the league overwhelmingly endorsed the decision that there should be a sanction.
"In a second vote, the league then overwhelmingly endorsed the decision that the sanction should be 15 points.
"If you want to know what overwhelmingly means, it means in both cases the vote was over 75 per cent."
Leeds must therefore start the season 15 points in arrears and facing a huge challenge to earn promotion back to the Championship.
Dennis Wise has said his side will need to earn 105 points to win League One.
