Listen to Bates on Leeds verdict

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates gave his views on the outcome of the football club's arbitration hearing live on Yorkshire Radio at 5pm on Thursday.

A three-man arbitration panel announced at the Offices of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators that it had rejected Leeds United's arguments that the 15 point deduction was unlawful.

On its website Leeds United said: "If what football achieves out of this decision is clarity for clubs in the future (and there will undoubtedly be cases of insolvency again), then that can mitigate some of our disappointment as we want all clubs to survive through what are very difficult times.

The matter is now closed and the focus can now return to the pitch. The decision to remain in League One was always correct from the club's perspective. If the team are now able to progress through the play-offs to the Championship, then it would be the appropriate reward for the efforts of the club's fans and players in overcoming the penalty imposed on the club."

Listen to clips from Ken Bates chatting on Yorkshire Radio online.

Subscribers to Leeds United TV, which costs £3.99 a month, can also watch an interview with the chairman from 5.30pm on Thursday.

From 6pm on BBC Radio Leeds, there will be a special Leeds United phone-in on the club losing its appeal. Listen to BBC Radio Leeds live online.

More than 35,000 fans have signed an online petition at the Downing Street e-petition website, which states: "We, the undersigned, petition the Prime Minister to request that the Football League remove the 15-point deduction from Leeds United AFC."

www.leedsunited.com