United hit out at the Football League after a deal struck with Derby to take Dickinson to Leeds for the rest of their League One term collapsed on the final day of the January transfer window.
Derby were willing to sanction a half-season loan for the 23-year-old striker but Leeds failed to supply the Football League with the necessary paperwork before Monday's 5pm deadline, the cut-off point for permanent transfers and long-term loans.
United revealed that a fax confirming the agreement reached the Football League at 5.14pm, 14 minutes after the deadline, and the club criticised the League for failing to process the transfer on the basis of "exceptional circumstances".
Leeds appeared to indicate that adverse weather conditions across England were responsible for the delay in signing Dickinson.
The Premier League announced on Monday that it would authorise deals concluded after 5pm provided clubs could prove that the heavy snow was responsible for the late arrival of documentation, but the Football League adhered to the original deadline set by FIFA.
The deal reached with Derby allowed Dickinson to remain with United up to and including the League One play-offs should Leeds qualify, and his arrival would have strengthened the hand of manager Simon Grayson after Bristol City rejected his attempt to sign Lee Trundle on an identical agreement.
Dickinson built his reputation by scoring 33 goals in 57 league starts for his first club Stockport County, and Derby paid £750,000 to sign him last summer. He has since completed loan spells at Huddersfield Town and Blackpool, where he played under Grayson.
The Football League's emergency loan market opens next week, allowing Leeds to sign players for a maximum of 93 days, and Derby would grant the forward a move to Elland Road if United still wish to recruit him.