Leeds chairman Ken Bates has called for Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney to resign after the club lost their appeal against a 15-point penalty imposed at the start of the season.

An independent three-man tribunal upheld the League's decision to dock the points as punishment after Leeds broke competition rules on insolvency.

The arbitration panel revealed their verdict in London today after an extended behind-closed-doors hearing, just two days before the end of the season.

Bates confirmed he will accept the panel's decision and that the matter was now closed, but he was still aggrieved at the outcome.

He told Sky Sports: "No matter how gentlemanly they put it, the tribunal has criticised the appeals procedures of the Football League.

"We had to appeal to the other clubs, all of whom had a vested interest and many of them have admitted they voted for the 15 points (deduction), not because it was right or wrong, but because it served their own selfish interests.

"I think in the circumstances and in view of the criticism of the bad flaws in the Football League's procedures, the directors of the Football League board should consider their position and Lord Mawhinney should resign.

"We've got to win the play-offs and get back in the Championship, but to have "an exciting and thorough football family" you have to have leaders you can trust and respect and I'm afraid that is no longer the case as far as Leeds and as far as many other clubs, who haven't got the guts to say so."

The verdict means Leeds stay in sixth place in League One and they must now hope to secure promotion via a play-off place.

The verdict will be met with huge celebration by Swansea, Doncaster, Carlisle and Nottingham Forest, with two clubs reported to have been braced for possible legal action had the three-man panel overturned Leeds' sanction.

If Leeds had been handed back all 15 points they would have jumped from sixth to second, ousting Doncaster from an automatic promotion spot, while Swansea would not have been assured of the League One title.

Lord Mawhinney said: "On behalf of the board and the League, I welcome the (tribunal) panel's findings in their entirety.

"It has found that the actions we took were reasonable and appropriate in these unprecedented circumstances and that we had the power to act as we did.

"Now I believe we should draw a line under the whole process.

"Leeds United are a valued member of the Football League family. We should all now get back to the business of football and enjoy the climax to what has already been a great season."

Bates was also unhappy with the tribunal panel's criticism of Leeds for the delay in bringing about the action.

"We feel this finding is unjust as the club sought to oppose the imposition of the penalty from August 30, 2007 onwards," read a Leeds statement.

"We did accept the imposed condition of a 15-point penalty subject to an appeal to member clubs.

"As at August 3, 2007 we had no option but to do so. If we had not the club would have been lost forever, which was far too big a price for anyone to pay.

"It is galling therefore that we are criticised for the delay in bringing the appeal when it was delays by the Football League that effectively backed us into this corner in the first place.

"The matter is now closed and the focus can now return to the pitch."

Leeds were deducted 15 points for failing to exit administration via a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

A majority of more than 75 per cent of fellow Football League clubs then voted to uphold the sanction.

Bates had been forced to put the club in the hands of administrators last May due to debts of around £35million.

The club denied any wrongdoing and agreed to an arbitration hearing after initially serving the Football League with a High Court writ.

Bournemouth and Luton could start next season with a similar handicap after both recently failed to exit administration via a CVA.

Leeds have already ensured their place in the play-offs with victory at Yeovil last week.

Gary McAllister's side will play their final match of the season against Gillingham on Sunday in front of a sell-out crowd at Elland Road.