DENNIS WISE will be given the chance to get beleagured Leeds United back into the Championship.

Barring a mathematical miracle, next season Leeds will be playing in the third tier of English football for the first time in the club's 88-year history.

Chairman Ken Bates has indicated that Wise and his assistant Guy Poyet will be given the opportunity to rebuild the playing squad which is likely to be dismantled soon after relegation will be confirmed at Derby next Sunday.

Ipswich's late equaliser at Elland Road on Saturday has virtually condemned Leeds to League One. They trail Hull by three points and have a vastly inferior goal difference with one game to play.

It is still mathematically possible for Leeds to stay up, but they would need to win their last game at Pride Park by at least eight goals, and for Hull to lose at home to Plymouth.

Bates will also have to defend the club as it faces FA punishment following a disgraceful pitch invasion involving hundreds of fans as the game drew to a close.

Former York City man Richard Cresswell headed Leeds in front early on but Wise's tactics of trying to kill the game in the second half backfired.

After coming under increasing pressure a defence which has proved so fragile throughout the season was broken when Alan Lee glanced in a header on 88 minutes.

Late goals have crippled Leeds this season but none more so than Lee's late stab to the heart.

It was too much for some fans to stomach and near the end they spilled on the pitch and headed towards the Ipswich supporters.

Referee Michael Jones led the players from the field with 45 seconds of time added on still to play.

It took half an hour to clear the pitch to his satisfaction and play resumed with a Leeds corner. Had they scored from it the reverberations would have sent shock waves through Hull and Barnsley.

Ipswich saw off the danger and after a few more seconds play referee Jones blew for full-time.

Wise said: "It is the lowest point of my career."


Leeds match facts

Coca-Cola Championship: Leeds United 1, Ipswich Town 1 (at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Ankergren, Richardson, Foxe, Rui Marques, Gray (Kandol 88), Blake (Moore 82), Kishishev, Thompson, Lewis (R Elliott 77), Healy, Cresswell.

Subs (not used): Stack, Johnson.

Booked: Thompson, Foxe, Blake.

Goal: Cresswell 12.

Ipswich Town: Supple, Wright, Bruce, Wilnis, Harding, Peters (Clarke 76), Garvan, Williams (O'Callaghan 63), Roberts, Jeffers (Walters 67), Lee.

Subs (not used): Price, Richards.

Booked: Roberts, Garvan, Clarke.

Goal: Lee 88.

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).

Attendance: 31,269.