Ipswich striker Alan Lee's late equaliser at Elland Road ensured a 1-1 draw with Ipswich and all but condemned the Yorkshire club to a humiliating relegation to Coca-Cola League One.

Barring a series of freak results on the final day, Leeds will begin next season in the third tier of English football and the harsh reality prompted a small section of angry fans to spill onto the pitch.

Referee Michael Jones led the players off the pitch for a full 30 minutes until stewards had restored order, briefly returning to play out the final minute.

The chaos prompted a quick response from the game's authorities who are to launch a full-scale investigation.

Football League head of communications John Nagle told PA Sport: "Clearly, passions will run high at this stage of the season.

"However, it is deplorable for supporters to enter the field of play at any time.

"The events at Elland Road will be a matter for the Football Association to investigate and these actions by a minority of Leeds supporters could have serious consequences for the club."

Nagle refused to speculate on what punishment Leeds now face, but at the very worst they could kick-off the 2007-08 campaign with a points deduction.

Crestfallen Leeds manager Dennis Wise refused to comment on the unsavoury scenes that unfolded shortly after Lee's late goal, insisting: "It's a sad enough day as it is. I don't want to talk about that."

But Ipswich manager Jim Magilton was also left furious after the trouble left his players fearing for their safety.

Magilton branded referee Jones' decision to bring the players back out onto the field as "shambolic", claiming the game should have been abandoned.

He said: "It was a shambolic but brave decision to come back out.

"I was involved in something similar at West Ham when the referee called the game off. He should have called this one off.

"It was a poor decision. The players were worried about going back out.

"If any of them had got injured or hurt, I would have been knocking on the referee's door."

(reopens)

Although he would not comment on the pitch invasion, Wise did insist he was still the right man for the job despite seeing Leeds all-but relegated.

Hull's win at Cardiff leaves Leeds, who travel to Derby on Sunday, needing to make up a nine-goal goal difference deficit on the Tigers, who tackle Plymouth at home.

Wise, who admitted he took "full responsibility" for Leeds' sad plight, said: "It's a sad day. It's a sad day for me, a sad day for the players, a sad day for the fans and a sad day for everyone involved in this football club.

"It's an impossible task now I think, but everyone knows that. Nine goals difference, so it's more or less done.

"But we've done everything we could possibly do. I take full responsibility for everything that's happened because we're big people, but unfortunately we haven't done what we came here to do. We're sad, we're disappointed."

Wise admitted today was the lowest point in his career but said he was not going to be making excuses.

"I could say a lot of things, but I'm not going to sit here and make excuses.

"As a group, as a manager, it's not been good enough. Simple as that because if we were we wouldn't be sitting here in this situation.

"I'm not going to fob you off and say this, this, and that, this excuse, that excuse, I'll take the responsibility, it's on my shoulders."

Wise, drafted in by Leeds chairman Ken Bates at the end of October, stressed he would be in charge of the team from day one of the new campaign.

"We'll have them from the start. There's a lot of things we'll do and we'll do it properly.

"We'll make sure these players we have are fit and strong enough and mentally strong enough to get us up."

Wise insisted he was in for the long haul, adding: "I'll be sitting down with the chairman and discuss everything and we'll take it from there.

"I didn't come here just for five months. I came to be here for a lot longer than that.

"Unfortunately this is a terrible time for us, but one thing is for sure, we'll be giving it as much as possible to get them straight back up."

Magilton felt Ipswich were good value for their point.

The Irishman, whose side started the day in 14th place with four wins from their previous six matches, said: "I thought we were excellent. We were keeping and passing the ball well and deserved our equaliser."

The former Southampton and Ipswich midfielder spared a thought for Leeds and their supporters.

He added: "These fans are passionate about their club and Leeds have been (all-but) relegated. It's a tough day for them.

"It surprises me for a club of this stature but you are what you are at the end of the season."