Doncaster chairman John Ryan has threatened to bring proceedings of his own if United's points deduction is overturned by an arbitrational panel today – but he confirmed to the YEP that Leeds would not be the subject of any counter-claim made by him.

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United's argument against their 15-point penalty, which was imposed in August for what the Football League claimed was a failure to adhere to their policy on insolvency, was sent to arbitration last month and the tribunal's verdict was due to be issued around 5pm today.

Leeds, who deny breaking any Football League rules, have asked the three-man panel considering their claim to revoke the deduction and reinstate their 15 points, a decision which would lift United to second place in League One tonight and instantly guarantee the Elland Road club promotion to the Championship.

Three clubs – Doncaster, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle United – would see their chances of automatic promotion ended by a ruling which overturns the 15-point penalty, and Ryan said he would "look at the options open to me" were his club to be demoted from second position.
But the Doncaster chairman is not planning to launch a legal case against Leeds and would instead consider pursuing a claim against the Football League over a dispute which has taken nine months to resolve.

Ryan said: "I'm waiting on a decision like everyone else and I'll look at the options open to me as and when it comes.
"But any action we decide to take won't be taken against Leeds United. It would be against the Football League.

"If Leeds get their points back then, as unhappy as I'd be about it, our beef wouldn't be with them."

The arbitration panel appointed to decide on United's challenge was scheduled to reconvene at the Chartered Institute of Arbitration on Bloomsbury Square in London at 5pm today, with a decision due to be
made public shortly after the meeting begins.

The verdict will be issued by both Leeds and the Football League, in theory bringing to an end a dispute which began in August and has been allowed to run the full length of the League One season.

United accepted the offer of independent arbitration at the end of February, and the three-man tribunal panel of Sir Philip Otton, Peter Leaver and Peter Cadman began hearing submissions on Wednesday, April 16.

The hearing was expected to last for three days but ran into the following week due to the weight of evidence presented by both Leeds and the Football League.

The panel promised to return their decision by May 1, and their deliberations have run to the very end of that deadline, just two days before the end of the League One season.

Doncaster held second position this morning and, in normal
circumstances, would have the opportunity to secure automatic promotion at Cheltenham Town on Saturday, but their standing is reliant on the arbitration panel ruling in favour of the Football League.

Ryan said: "It's the timing that I find so difficult to accept. That's my biggest problem. There was nothing to stop this being sorted out before the turn of the year."