Leeds United's appeal against a 15-point penalty has been rejected following a meeting of Football League chairmen at a special meeting in London.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates made an impassioned plea to have the sanction lifted after the club were finally granted permission to play in League One after being handed back their share.

But an "overwhelming" majority of Football League chairmen voted to uphold the 15-point deduction.

More than 75 per cent of clubs initially agreed Leeds deserved to be punished for failing to meet the Football League's strict rules on insolvency and they then agreed, by the same majority, not to reduce the penalty.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney said: "Leeds United presented their appeal and why they thought the board was wrong.  We then had a vote which overwhelmingly endorsed the decision that there should be  a sanction.

"In a second vote the League overwhelmingly endorsed the sanction. Overwhelmingly means the vote was over 75 per cent in support of the board.

"Leeds are starting the new season in League One as a valued member of the league's football family but with a penalty of 15 points."