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Wait for Leeds verdict ruined Swansea's celebrations



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"Everyone in the game finds it difficult to see it changing the table. If it does, I don't think we will see the end of it."
Roberto Martinez
Published Date:
28 April 2008
ROBERTO MARTINEZ believes the delay over Leeds United's points appeal has denied his Swansea City side "one of the best memories of their career".
The Welsh club, who went into last weekend seven points clear of the field, were expecting to be awarded the League One trophy after their final home game on Saturday against Leyton Orient.

However, the Football League ruled that any presentation would have to wait until after the independent arbitration hearing into the 15-point deduction had reached a verdict.

A decision is promised by Thursday at the latest, the possible ramifications of Leeds winning the points back being obvious with Gary McAllister's side sitting 16 behind the Swans.

Despite that, manager Martinez feels the trophy should have been handed over after their final home game. He said: "I am disappointed that the players have had what should have been one the best memories of their careers taken away from them.

"To lift a trophy in front of your own fans is special, and I am disappointed about that."

Swansea can make the arbitration panel decision academic on Saturday by winning at Brighton to ensure they finish top. Martinez added: "Everyone in the game finds it difficult to see it changing the table. If it does, I don't think we will see the end of it."

Another member of the Swansea camp who is finding the delay difficult to understand is Spanish striker Guillem Bauza.

He said: "If my friends back in Spain ask, I tell them to go to the website and read about it.

"To be honest, I don't really understand it myself. It is a bit weird talking about courts and justice, and we just have to wait and see.

United left-back Alan Sheehan will have to sit out the next three matches following his dismissal in the 1-0 win at Yeovil Town last Friday night.

The on-loan Leicester City defender was guilty of a two-footed tackle on Yeovil's Lee Peltier and was shown a straight red card.

It means Sheehan will be forced to sit out Saturday's game with Gillingham on Saturday plus both legs of the play-off semi-finals.

Andrew Hughes is likely to deputise against the Kent club with Ben Parker, the only other left-back at Elland Road, having been sent off for Darlington in their 3-2 defeat at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Parker, who can be recalled at 24 hours' notice, will have to serve a one-game ban.

An additional 850 tickets have been made available for Saturday's game after Gillingham returned part of their allocation.

These will go on sale tomorrow at 9.00am to personal applicants only at the Elland Road ticket office.
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The full article contains 467 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 29 April 2008 8:36 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Yorkshire
 
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1

ANDREW R.,

harrogate 28/04/2008 18:09:35
Is Martinez the new Alex Ferguson??
2

simon hughes,

28/04/2008 18:25:32
what does he think it has been like for us leeds fans then- a bed of roses!!!!
3

fenwhite,

the fens 28/04/2008 19:40:21
Martinez , has he got his head stuck up his backside, how could they be presented the trophy before the arbitration decision, if we get the points back, we could still win the league, the man is an idiot
4

Ben Cane,

york 29/04/2008 08:14:05
Easy to see why Swansea are upset but that doesn't alter the justice of Leeds's case. Leeds were deducted ten points for going into administration at the end of the previous season and another fifteen for coming out of it the "wrong way" in circumstances which owe as much to HMRC as to anything football-related. It also seems to have escaped some commentators notice that Leeds have actually won all the points which they are attempting to retrieve. It isn't as though they are asking for a free gift. I'm afraid that the whole business reflects badly on the competence of those charged with responsibility for the organisation of football.
5

Sean Gaffney,

Munich 29/04/2008 10:17:45
I've heard complaints that Leeds United are whinging about the points deduction but all we've heard the past few weeks are swansea fans, manager, players and chairmen complaining how it's not fair. Fairness has nothing to do with getting justice !
6

Julie H,

Hertford 29/04/2008 10:40:31
Good! That makes up for the fact that they ruined our day when we went there. I'm not talking about the result but being held back in a packed coach for an hour while the police kept the Swansea thugs away.

Seriously though, we deserve to get our points back, we broke no rules and it's a farce that the FL have taken until now to do something.
7

peter livesey,

doncaster 29/04/2008 11:03:43
leeds should have another 10 or 15 points deducted for the way the chairman of leeds cheated when they put the club into administration.i hope they dont get promoted this year.the fans have over inflated egos and think they are a big club.the glory days of leeds are way behind them.
8

blacknwhite,

Chester 30/04/2008 17:46:56
Of course it has spoilt Swansea's celebrations. When the season started all the teams knew what they were aiming for, even Leeds with the minus 15 points so in that respect the season is almost over and as the table stands Swansea are Champions with one of three other teams promoted. Leeds accepted the 15 point deduction to be allowed to stay in League 1 and compete as Leeds Utd 2007 and on doing so agreed not to appeal. However, an appeal has been made and the FL have allowed it to go to the courts so late in the season when it could have been sorted months and months ago and all the clubs at the top would have known where they stood. This should have been sorted before the season started because once it has started you cannot change the rules half way through a season. That's not fair either on the teams already competing otherwise clubs could have made financial decisions to buy in or loan more players to be able to compete with other teams ie Leeds who would have been near the top for most of the season. You have to look at it from both points of view and it's not fair on the teams already at the top or Leeds because the FL and Leeds should have had this sorted before hand.

I don't see how Leeds can get any points back now that the season has come to a close when the rules have been set and teams have competed accordingly.
9

blacknwhite,

Chester 30/04/2008 17:47:57
Of course it has spoilt Swansea's celebrations. When the season started all the teams knew what they were aiming for, even Leeds with the minus 15 points so in that respect the season is almost over and as the table stands Swansea are Champions with one of three other teams promoted. Leeds accepted the 15 point deduction to be allowed to stay in League 1 and compete as Leeds Utd 2007 and on doing so agreed not to appeal. However, an appeal has been made and the FL have allowed it to go to the courts so late in the season when it could have been sorted months and months ago and all the clubs at the top would have known where they stood. This should have been sorted before the season started because once it has started you cannot change the rules half way through a season. That's not fair either on the teams already competing otherwise clubs could have made financial decisions to buy in or loan more players to be able to compete with other teams ie Leeds who would have been near the top for most of the season. You have to look at it from both points of view and it's not fair on the teams already at the top or Leeds because the FL and Leeds should have had this sorted before hand.

I don't see how Leeds can get any points back now that the season has come to a close when the rules have been set and teams have competed accordingly.
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