An independent tribunal on Thursday upheld the Football League's decision to dock Leeds 15 points over the way they left administration last summer.

If United's appeal had succeeded they would have been promoted automatically ahead of Saturday's sell-out home game against Gillingham.

Fans were disappointed by the tribunal decision – but were adamant that Leeds would now go up via the play-offs.
Leeds will have to battle through home and away semi-final legs to reach the showpiece play-off final at Wembley on May 25.

Leeds United Supporters' Club chairman Ray Fell said: "To have the 15 points back would have been no more than the team deserved. But we have to live with the decision and go to the play-offs.

"If we get promoted at Wembley it will be fantastic. It would be the perfect answer to the League."

Many fans are pledging to voice their anger at the tribunal verdict with sustained anti-Football League chants at Saturday's match.
United chairman Ken Bates has called on the league's chairman, Lord Mawhinney, to resign.

Issuing a rallying cry to supporters, Mr Bates said: "We're going to the play-offs and hopefully we'll get back into the Championship the hard way. We've already done it on merit anyway and now we've got to do it again."

Mr Bates has also said it will be "poetic justice" if Leeds win on Saturday and send relegation-haunted Gillingham down in the process.
The Kent club's chairman, Paul Scally, infuriated the United hierarchy last August when he spoke out in favour of the points deduction.

Mr Bates's comments were echoed by fans who gathered at Elland Road to hear news of the tribunal's verdict coming through from London.
Brothers Carl and Danny Jones – season ticket-holders in the Revie Stand – travelled from Barnsley.

Carl, 20, said: "Everyone thought that when we were docked 15 points we would be relegated. Instead, we're going to get promoted.

"We should have been given the points back. Everyone is jealous because we're such a big club – it's always been us against them. Leeds never get any favours. We'll still get to Wembley, though. On our day we can beat anyone."

Danny, 22, said: "We expected it to be honest. But we're in the play-offs and we will get to the final, no doubt. At least now no one can accuse us of getting something we don't deserve. We'll walk it."

Student Reid Bradley, 17, from Morley, said the decision was "totally out of order". He added: "I was expecting that we would get at least five of the points back. But we will get to the play-off final and we will win it."

Lifelong fan Alan Fawcett – known as the Yellow Peril because of the badge-adorned fleece he wears to games – had come up especially from his home in Northampton.

The 58-year-old dad-of-three said: "I'm not surprised. At the end of the day the Football League give us nothing. But they cannot take away from us that we have a first class club and chairman and an excellent manager who will take us back to the Premiership.

"We also have a fantastic fan base that other clubs would kill for."

Leeds United Supporters' Trust chairman Rick Duniec said the team now had the chance to become Elland Road legends.

He said: "If Leeds get promotion at Wembley the fans will ultimately be glad of the decision. They can win it in a blaze of glory and it will be history in the making. We need to forget about the 15 points now and get on with the job. The supporters need to do what they do best and get behind the club."

• William Hill make Leeds United 7/4 to be promoted via the play-offs, while Ladbrokes are offering a slightly less hopeful 2/1.