Leeds stripped of full FA membership over debts

LONDON, Sep 7 (Reuters) Three-times English champions Leeds United have been stripped of their full membership of the Football Association because non-football creditors have not been satisfied, the FA said today.

Leeds will still be able to play in all FA competitions, including the FA Cup, but they will lose their right to vote on constitutional changes and other privileges.

''Membership was withdrawn as the new company running the club had not satisfied non-football creditors in accordance with FA Rules,'' the FA said in a statement. ''Football creditors have been satisfied in full however.'' The news is another blow to the club who have fallen on hard times and were relegated from the Premier League in 2004. Last season they were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history.

To make matters worse they started the present campaign with a 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League following the club's change of ownership in July, when chairman Ken Bates bought back the debt-ridden club from administrators KPMG.

Leeds, who went into administration on the final day of last season, confirmed on their Web site (www.leedsunited.com) that they had been barred from full FA membership, saying they still owed unpaid taxes.

''The club would prefer to be a full member of the FA, but it is also comfortable that not being a member will not prevent us from doing anything we need to do,'' the club said.

On the field Leeds have started the season strongly with four wins from four games although they are still bottom of the league on minus three points.

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