Leeds striker Dougie Freedman is now targeting promotion through the play-offs after an arbitration panel refused to overturn the club's 15-points deduction.

Freedman, on loan from Crystal Palace, has scored five vital goals to help United into the play-offs and insisted: "I'm not disappointed at all.

"I've been fortunate to play in many play-off games and it is very exciting for the fans and players.

"It's winner takes all. I joined Leeds to play some football and have a bit of pressure put on me, so I am looking forward to the play-offs."

Ray Fell, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Club, added: "I must admit I had a feeling all along that this would be the outcome.

"I am disappointed for the players because getting the 15 points back would have been no more than they deserved for their performances throughout the season.

"Leeds have answered the Football League in the right way by qualifying for the play-offs and if they pull it off by winning promotion it will be a tremendous achievement."

The arbitration panel's decision has avoided rebellion by United's promotion rivals in League One.

Doncaster and Carlisle had threatened to challenge the verdict if the 15 points had been restored and that would have thrown the play-offs into turmoil.

Leeds were criticised by the three-man panel for the length of time it took them to bring the action to have the decision overturned.

But the club hit back on their official website by claiming they had sought to have the 15 points restored since the end of August.

Gary McAllister's side, who have already qualified for the top six, have accepted the ruling and say the matter is now closed.

The three-man arbitration panel, which met from April 16 to 21, was headed by retired High Court judge Sir Philip Otton and included former Premier League chief executive Peter Leaver and lawyer Peter Cadman.

The Football League hit the club with the 15-point penalty from the season's start for failing to exit administration through a Company Voluntary Agreement last year.

Leeds claimed they were powerless to prevent the collapse of their CVA and that no League rules were broken.

Chairman Ken Bates has consistently described the punishment as "unfair and unjust" and was ready to challenge the League in the High Court until they agreed to arbitration.

Meanwhile, McAllister's plans to give some of his promising youngsters a chance in Saturday's final league game of the season against Gillingham could be foiled by the relegation scrap.

With the Gills needing a win at Elland Road to stand any chance of League One survival, their rivals will be quick to complain if McAllister fields a much weakened team.

Ideally, the United boss would like to rest some of his senior players, who have had a long, hard season, and bring in the likes of striker Tom Elliott, midfielders Fabian Delph and Oliver Hotchkiss and former Motherwell keeper Alan Martin.

Left back Alan Sheehan will be missing anyway as he starts a three-match ban for his sending-off at Yeovil but McAllister is keen to bring back leading scorer Jermaine Beckford, who has missed the last three matches with an ankle injury.

Ian Westlake is available after his return from three months on loan at Brighton.

With the upper tier of the East Stand open, Leeds officials are predicting a crowd of around 39,000, easily beating the previous highest attendance of the campaign - 32,501 for the West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield in December.

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10:38pm Thursday 1st May 2008

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