Leeds docked 15 points

LONDON (Reuters) - Leeds United's new owners have been cleared to start next season in the third division but have been given a 15-point deduction by the Football League, the Yorkshire club said on Friday.

The new owners, led by chairman Ken Bates, had been waiting since buying the club last month from administrators KPMG to receive their Football Share from the league, entitling Leeds to start the new season but with points docked.

"The club have appealed against this sanction," Leeds said on their Web site (www.leedsunited.com). "The timescale for the appeal is not yet known."

The league, which governs the three divisions outside the Premier League, had rejected a previous Leeds request on July 13 to have the share transferred.

Leeds also used Friday's statement to reassure their fans about the events of recent weeks.

"The club has received an amount of criticism from supporters for not keeping them up to date with developments during what has been a very difficult time for us all.

"We appreciate this policy was difficult for fans to accept, but please be assured that this was been done in the best interests of Leeds United which is justified by the return of the share.

"We are now planning the appeal and we are able to complete the squad rebuilding for the 2007/08 season, albeit with only one week to go before our first League One game at Tranmere."

Relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history, Leeds' financial problems have made them a shadow of the club that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001 and were English champions in 1992.