Send us your views by clicking here. We'll publish the lot.

YOUR VIEWS:

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Well done to all of the squad this season. Others would have thrown in the towel, but you have proved yourselves worthy successors to the Leeds greats. Thousands of Leeds fans from this side of the Irish Sea will be cheering you on to Wembley and beyond. LEEDS FOREVER!

Michael, Dublin


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A fantastic season so far even to get into play-offs. Good luck to the boys against Carlisle.


Christine Duval

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Once a white always a white …Saw first match 40 years ago at Elland rd lost 2 jobs over the years following Leeds Utd now living in New Zealand but still follow every game on the internet, read EP every day for news. Go Get'em Leeds, lets get back where we belong ….top flight.......Good Luck Lads....


Paul in NZ

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Lads,

thanks for making us proud again with the magnificent spirit you've shown getting into the play-offs.

Best of luck against Carlisle - they'll want this one!


Jon Ketteridge

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Come on Leeds this is your moment and your time it might not be the champions league but it's still one big step back up…lets stop the rot and play in the championship next season !

COME ON LEEDS MARCHING ON TOGETHER

Lewis, Alofts

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Good Luck

From sweden

Med vänlig hälsning

Roy Bengtsson

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Come on our lads!

It's time to play with no fear as we have the best players and team spirit.

We cannot travel over tonight but it will be just as tense in the bars here as in Leeds - no fear - our team is the best in the division.

Chris, Alicante Whites.

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come on leeds, we can do it, have passion and pride and we will see you at wembley lifting us up back to where we belong!!

Paul Rothery

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...don't forget the old saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger", we're now stronger, COME ON LEEDS

Ed McKenna

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Sorry but as I read it...having just poured through the full text from the Arbitration Panel, most of the replies on here and in fact you too Mr Hay seem to have missed one BIG point...

One BIG point that rendered Leeds case unwinnable from the start.

Yes Leeds did accept the 15 point deduction but the reason they did this was the the alternative was to start this season in League 2.

That is within the League's remit when an insolvent club changes hands without a CVA being in place.

League regulation 11 relates to a new Member club (ie the new company Bates formed to buy the license from the old company) being made to start the following season in a lower league--in this case L2-- (Remember Swindon's double relegation which I think was for financial irregularities)..

In Leeds case as spelled out in the arbitration text:

"Leeds NewCo wanted to avoid this 'relegation' and to ensure Leeds stayed in L1 it was prepared to pay a price to achieve this. The Football League was receptive to the idea and indicated that it might be prepared to exercise its discretion to permit this to happen."

So they docked us 15 points and we accepted it. We also signed away our right to appeal except to the other League clubs.

I've never heard Bates or anyone mention the League 2 alternative.

What's more, we could have been docked 20 points but the FL decided 15 was a fair amount.

Although I was confident we would get the points back, now I think we are lucky to be in League One period and Bates has seen a huge gamble backfire in his face.

Because of him we deserve supporters of other clubs to be laughing at us even more now, when in fact we could have won a lot of new friends if we'd had mounted a successful campaign.

But no, the case never stood a chance and Bates has taken the supporters and the club for a ride.

Hopefully if we're promoted.....Bye Bye Bates!

And Mr Hay....your report should have noted the -15 points/league 2 alternative. It fundamentally changes the whole argument.

If we get promoted after starting on 15 points we will have pulled off the greatest escape of them all.

I'm just glad Gary Mac never got involved in the politics/debate over the appeal and just focussed on playing football.

John Thompson-Mills, Adelaide, Australia

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OK, so the decision has been made and we Leeds fans have to accept it. I will wait with interest to see what happens to Luton, Bournemouth and Rotherham or any other league club who are forced by the Taxman to come out of administration without a CVA.

A 25 point deduction will surely deter any potential investors when they realise that it is very likely they will be buying a club that will be playing non-league football after next season, having begun season 2008/2009 in Div.2 on -15 points.

Or will they not face the same punishment as Leeds United? Let's see............

Regards, Harvey

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I have just read the decision in full. It would apperar the League are basically saying they can be unfair as they like as its in the 'rules', and they can impose whatever penalty they want, knowing that the subject club has no alternative unless it wants to go out of existence or suffer another relegation.
Leeds really had no choice, or chance as legally(if not morally) they had to agree to the points deduction.
Interestingly we were punished for not exiting administration by way of a CVA.
The only parties to object to the CVA put forward originally by Leeds' administrators at the creditors meeting - HM Revenue and THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!
Work that one out.....

Adam Perrin, London

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Ken Bates and KPMG got it wrong. They broke the rules for their own personal gain - and Leeds fans, as usual, pay the price. Bates blames everyone - except himself and the creditors - if we dont go up via the play-offs HE & KPMG will leave us in the third tier next year and both should leave Elland Road for good with their business reputations in tattters!

jez gunnell

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Because of all the distress you have caused to officials, players, and supporters of leading clubs in Division One,
namely Swansea, Doncaster, Carlisle, Southend, and Nottingham Forest, I personally would expel Leeds United
from the Football League, exactly what happened the last time same you cheated in 1919 when you were called
Leeds City.

Remember this, you are the biggest city in the country to have the worst football team.

Get over it, "You are Not Famous Any More"

I hope that you get whipped in the play-offs, and are stuck in Division One, where you belong.

Your ground is poor, your supporters are not nice people, bye bye!!!

Geoff Thyer

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It doesn't surprise me. The implications for the Football League AND the FA would have been huge, and heads would have rolled for sure! 100% respect for Ken Bates and his team who tried to do what was right for the club, both morally and legally, and I think everyone agrees that morally the Football League were wrong. Now lets get on with the job and earn our promotion in an honourable and just manner. The whole of LUFC deserve applause for the way they have come through the turmoil of the last twelve months. COME ON YOU WHITES !!

Vince Bradshaw San Miguel de Salinas, Spain

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Im absolutely distraught and angry at the verdict. To come to the conclusion that Leeds delayed the appeal is false and diminishes the creditibility of the verdict. Ous hands have been tied since we since the waiver to the right of appeal. It stinks of blackmail by Football league. Hearing the Gillingham and Swansea chairmens comments enrages me evenmore. There are dishonest, self in dulgent fools who are fueled by greed. The only answer to all this is beat Gillingham and send them packing to League 2 and win the play offs. I say to the Leeds players use this verdict and anger to drive us to the championship. To Lord mawhinney who says Leeds are valued member of the football league, he sickens me,and sorting out there procedures which are flawed makes us Martyrs for the league and other clubs. To be enriching the football league sickens me aswell. The quicker we get back to the premier ship the better. As a fan to win through play offs will heal the wounds of this verdict. Please Leeds JUST DO IT. Justice will only be done if are promoted.

Ronan Currid from Sligo Ireland

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Leeds United should tell the football league where to get of by getting promoted to the championship even though it is the hard way.
Everybody knows we were treated badly in the whole affair yet once again it is all about money.
Nobody in the football league1 wanted us to get our 15 points back as they will be hoping we don't get promoted so as they get all the revenue we generate for them, all Leeds fans should have boycotted there grounds.Also I hope the football league are proud of themselves as they have effectively put 1 maybe 2 football clubs out of business (Luton&Bournmouth) because they will have to start next season -15 points and if they are in league2 next season then there is no hope for them as they do not have the same resilience as we do so well done the football league.Keep up the good work Ken we will follow you forever.

Stefan

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Ok we'll accept it as long as it's the same for everyone, if the likes of Luton & Bournemouth don't start on -15 next year then we should take more action.

Ashley, Leeds

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Had Leeds been situated 200 miles down the M1 then per haps they would have had a chance of a favourable outcome to their appeal.Ask West Ham.

Tony Hudson

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So we did nothing wrong yet we get no points back, anyone else see the similarities between this and the Zimbabwe elections.
Leeds have been cleared of any wrong doing, this is a moral victory.

Ben H, Ossett

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As a Leeds fan living in Bournemouth the decision is a double whammy. If Leeds do not win the playoffs (I think they will) then there is a danger we will end up like Forest. If Bournemouth do not stay up and start next season on -15 then I fear they will be relegated again and go out of business. To any club in financial trouble my advice is to take administration before December to give you a chance to get the 15 point hit in the same season so you only have 1 relegation to contend with not 2. If the league change the rules to protect from this then they are just admitting that Leeds were right all along so I cannot see that happening. Come on Lads beat The Gills to help out Bournemouth and then go on and get the promotion we deserve.
MOT
Doug - Bournemouth

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I am not surprised at all with the decision made by the panel as they were always going to support the status quo. Also we are a northern club and it's well known they never get anything, add to this fact that it's Leeds United and there you are, what do you expect. The criticism by the panel of the length of time taken by Leeds United to begin independent arbitration beggars belief and really rubs salt into the wound. If the panel can make such a fatuous statement then what confidence can you have in their ability to make a fair, reasonable and objective decision.
Lets go on now and win promotion through the playoffs show the lot of them.

Peter Brittle

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Football should be played on the football-pitch and not in an office.
Sad day for fotball. Good luck with the play-off.
Hope you play league-matches against Derby next season.

Johannes (Norway)

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i had an e-mail from the football league last year when i complained as a fan about with holding the golden share, their reply we are acting only in the interest of the fans!!!!!!! how is this in the fans interests? Mawhinny resign you are a disgrace.

ken

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absolutely superb decision. i would have relegated you to the conference north.

marie rees

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"We Are LEEDS"

in the playoffs lets make history, a good challenge is what we are used to anyway
super leeds we are going up
California White
MOT

Mike

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This is a sad day of football, the FA have made a fool of them selves, making up rules as they go on. This makes a lot of us that love British football too wonder
Ørjan

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I think lord Mawhinney should resign he has in my mind acted vindictivleytowards Leeds,
he has done everything in his power to force this outcome.I can not believe he is going to get away with it! if some one commited a crime they would be tried by a impartial jury,and not the agrieved party, I hope all those greedy clubs who voted against us get what they deserve RELEGATION AND BANCRUPTCY!
Lord mawhinney has said lets draw a line under it all, that Leeds are a valued member of the football family,well you don't steal from your family then expect to be invited back with open arms.
To all Leeds fans i say lets get behind the team and stick it to the league.
Joe (north stand )

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"At least we went down fighting" now lets get on with the rest of the season.and the play- offs
Diane

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Well, another chapter over. Now lets go and win the playoffs, You have to feel sorry for the other 2 clubs who will start next season with -15 points. They will probably go to the wall. Chins up lads, we can do this. M.O.T
Peter Glov

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I AM A LEEDS FAN FREOM NORWAY,THANK YOU FA……………………………
Heidi Alfheim

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Typical, I never thought we would get anything anyway nobody likes us do we care NO, lets get to Wembley and send the Gills down as they were one of the teams who voted against us, remember our anthem weve had our ups and downs, well now its our time for the UPS. Lets have a good day out Saturday and blood the youngsters in, Mexican Waves and a great atmosphere.
Mark Teesside White

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As was known al the way through the FA have done their best to 'sink' Leeds United. But as 'United' we have come through this season, won the matches and got the goal difference. This is a credit to all concerned at Elland Road. The FA has been proved to be weak and unable to pass any judgement about anything. The lot should resign and go to get some instruction in law.

Other clubs in the footballing fraternity of England should take head and learn from this decision.

George Pennock

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Mawhinney should go - the man's one of life's serial loser's
Edotnowt

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We will win the play offs
come on Leeds lets show them all - we are back next season Leeds forever
Aage Jakobsen
Norwegian supporter

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The decision is not completely unexpected. There was no way that the panel were going to overturn the decision and face another wave of litigation from Doncaster, Carlisle etc. In any case, the Leeds United players and fans have shown solidarity and great determination in even reaching the playoffs given the handicap at the start of the season. We didn't want the panel to turn around the decision and have all the Leeds "haters" claiming we only went up because we cheated the points back. We've got to the play-offs, that's a remarkable achievement considering, so we'll get promoted off our own backs thank you very much. We're Leeds United, we stand proud, we stand together, and we'll go marching on together. Onwards and upwards, I know you'll do us proud at Wembley. We have a chance to make history. Let's take it. Leeds United Forever.
Chris Ibbetson

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The panel bottled it, but at the end of the day we're super Leeds and we're going up
Gaz

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I hope the players react as well as they did at the start of the season and that we go on to spank any team unfortunate enough to have to face us in the play offs. Injustice can be a key ingredient to success - I hope this proves to be the case.

John (Camden)

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We will manage this anyway...
See you next season in championship..
Best regards
Arnfinn Olsen
Norway

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I am dissapointed by the outcome. Leeds have fought this from the start and accepted the sanction in the first place through pure duress. If someone blackmailed another person like this outside of football then the police would be called and somebody arrested. As for not being fair to other clubs, they knew at the beginning that Leeds would fight this. Should we of expected anything other than this, 'No'. Lets look at the Tevez affair.
At last though it is over. I hope we can now show this league and the others in the play off exactly what we are made off.
Wembley and then the Championship.
And if all fails then God help league one next season !!!
Darren, Leeds

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Firstly, given my understanding of both the (un)fairness and severity of the punishment, I cannot believe an independent panel has chosen to uphold the deduction of points, especially 15.
Secondly, will Leeds supporters, and football fans generally, ever be given the reasons for the decision going the wrong way?

Lastly, when Leeds get to Wembley before we are promoted, it is vital that the club refuses to accept the play off winners trophy, and that the officials of the Football league are given a suitably "appreciative" welcome by fans of Leeds United, and the club officials and directors alike.
Certainly any FL official should be banned permanently from Elland Road - the lot should resign or be sacked for this fiasco.
Chris, Alicante, Spain

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Qu'elle surprise !

Never thought we'd get anything back.

What's the betting they change the rules over the summer so Luton and Bournemouth dont start with -15 !

David
Baildon

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Does anyone at Leeds not understand how galling it is to every other club that pays its bills to see Leeds wipe their debts out and then use that money to buy or take on loan players like Huntingdon, Beckford and Freeman – all too expensive for most League 1 clubs.
Dave Brown

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What disgraceful logic and reasoning the arbitration panel have given.

1) We signed to accept the 15 point deduction (We had No choice)

2) Its unfair to other clubs (And? shouldnt even come into it, was if fair to us???)

3) The duration of the time its taken (football league's fault that it was delayed

It's a sad day for Leeds United, a sad day for football. We've been royally stitched up by the lot of them. I hope the players feel this injustice as strongly as I do during the next 4 games.
Christopher Conway

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its a discusting result
now lets go all the way back to the premier leage thanks to the FL you have just woken a very angry sleeping giant
this great club of ours WILL NOT FORGET as the song goes 15 pts who gives a flip were super leeds and were going up
marching on together leeds leeds leeds

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I am very disappointed, but not surprised at the decision. We could not expect the panel to turn the appeal around. Since the FL have delayed the process deliberately, the appeals from the other clubs involved would never have been solvable. Perhaps an appeal in January would have brought another outcome.

We should start next season with +10 points for injustice being made. Leeds United will rise from the ashes again. 15 points - we're super-Leeds and we're going up.
Jorn Lundberg
Norwegian White.

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Its over and done with at last. A shallow victory for the FL. No more distractions though.This should galvanise the lads for the impending playoffs. Victory will be all the sweeter without any assistance from the FA or FL. Indeed this team and Gary Mac will go down in Leeds folklore for their fortitude and never say die attitude by winning the playoffs final. WE ARE LEEDS. WE ARE LEEDS .WE ARE LEEDS.
Rajinder

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Disappointing & protective of a the English Football League who have failed all clubs and the English International team by their mediocrity.

The logical, legal and moral decision (after the error of the double punishment of 10 then 15 points) would have been to promote 4 teams (1 via the playoffs) for one season (2008/09).

Then in 2009/10 demote 4 from the Championship League with 3 only being promoted from League 1.
Len Cuff

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to keep it plain and simple we were never going to win because no one likes us.no one ever will,but out of all this lets all stick together from the players,boardroom, fans etc,we will be great again and we will become stronger.i just hope we can now get to wembley put on a show of strength and show the watching world that we are as one. we will never be defeated and we will keep the white flag flying high.leeds united will always reign supreme in my eyes until the day i die.
Martin Taylor

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Stuff the lot of them lets do it together if people had not
of stuck there noses in the Inland Revenue would not have got involved
and this would not have happened
We need to ask the question who was in the wrong the receivers,Ken Bates or the football league
Lets get on with it a get promoted and put two fingers up to them all
Ian
LUFC till I die
Ian Sanderson

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As a long time supporter of the club I think I can speak along with many others who support the club. When has the F.A. or The League done Leeds United any favours?
Remember Tinkler? Remember the F.A. Cup victory over Arsenal, then being forced to play their last game, which would have resulted in the double, on the following Monday after asking for a postponement to Wednesday. Cost Leeds the double. I have no doubt had Manchester United asked for that they'd have had it. The banning of Lee Bower from England before he had been found guilty of anything. But it seems it's O.K. for Cantona to assault fans. The F.A. and the League have always been unfair to Leeds and we all know that. Then look at the way The Club has been treated in Europe. Remember Paris, when the German captain had a goal disallowed after it had been awarded? The referee banned from football? Game not ordered to be replayed. I could go on but we all know it. The Football league and the F.A. are a disgrace. "Lions led by donkeys," springs to mind.
DENIS SLEE

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We fought the law and the law won, I'm sure a victory at Wembley in the play off final will taste sweeter than a victory over the old swine's at the Football League. This will only make Leeds United stronger, and what a force we will be. MOT
Rowan

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what a Supprise,
15 points who gives a @@@@@@@ were super leeds and were going up
Phil Cragg

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I am pleased with the decision. We didn't need the points anyway, but when all the clubs who voted against us in the first place face the same situation and then get relegated, I wonder how bitterly they'll complain!?
Lee Scott

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just heard the news, sad but not unexpected,The f.a have sat on this for as long as possible and really tis a bit late in the day to be mucking it up for the rest of the teams in the league.
This should have been sorted months ago, so now its up to the mighty whites to go up through the playoffs
steve

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I did not expect anything different it took too long for the idiots
at the football league to resolve this matter
We have all now to stick together and get promoted through the playoffs
and that would really get there backs up
Ian Sanderson
Forever LEEDS
Ian Sanderson

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This is a tavesty! So unjust... we deserve better.
Lets hope Leeds can deliver in the play offs to round off an excellent season.
Trevor R

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Did we really expect anything else – we are Leeds. Let's be the first club to win promotion with a points deduction!!!
Stephen Murphy

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how can they justify taking 15 points off us this season when next season it reduced to couple of points .leeds have been stitched up and those clubs what voted for us to recieve that deduction should take a long hard look at them selfs it totally out of order.but lets stuff it up their noses and go up in the play offs .mot

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As expected we have been unfairly treated again, our strength is that we are now one strong united army - fans, team and board – come on Leeds qualify via the play-offs, we are a top club and should be in the Premiership let alone the Championship. This decision will make our support even louder.

Gary Cater

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NOT SURPRISED...WE WILL DO IT THE HARD WAY...BRING ON WEMBLEY...COLM LAOIS MEMBERS IRELAND

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What a bunch of Hooray Henrys.
I'm sure they're all having a spot of tea With Haw-Haw as we cry at the injustice.
What a nerve they've got.
Hopefully this will fire up the lads to
Stick it to 'em all. On to VICTORY!

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I'm still confused and I'll need to see the full judgement. I had hoped that the Judgements would simply say whether or not we broke any rules. From the coverage just now on Sky and the statement on LUFC it is still not clear. Sky claim that the Judgement seems to blame Leeds for the delay and that it would be unfair at this stage to give anything back.

We know that the delay is NOT Leeds' fault because we tried everything prior to that to sort the matter out. As to fairness to other clubs - fair point but did we break the rules or not?!?!?

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So whats new, nobody does LUFC any favours. I have every confidence that we will still go up without the 15 through the play offs. Marching on Together.
best wishes to all at ER for a successful end to the season
Regards.
Peter Moore

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