Forensic analysis of mobile phones, computers and bank statements could hold the key to learning whether Southampton are guilty of systemic spying on rival teams.
Daily Mail Sport understands there is a suspicion that the sessions of several Championship clubs have been secretly observed by Saints staff this season.
This comes after we revealed last Thursday that a Southampton first-team analyst was caught allegedly recording Middlesbrough’s training from the bushes ahead of Saturday’s play-off semi-final first leg, which ended goalless. On Friday night, the EFL charged the South Coast club with a breach of their rules.
Sources close to the case say the League have been asked to obtain all relevant devices and records that could reveal evidence of previous spying. A digital footprint of suspected individuals, including bank statements, could prove significant, if such activity did occur on multiple occasions.
It is not yet known if this evidence will form part of Southampton’s impending hearing in front of an independent disciplinary commission or when that will take place, with the play-off final scheduled for a week on Saturday.
The urgency of the matter is presenting several challenges, such as what Middlesbrough will do with their players should they lose Tuesday night's second leg.
The commission has it within their power to impose a range of sanctions if Southampton are found guilty of spying, from a fine to expulsion from this season’s competition. It is thought Middlesbrough’s hierarchy will push for the latter.
That being the case, it is likely Kim Hellberg’s squad would continue training for the time being.
Sources with knowledge of the investigation believe that the suggestion Southampton could claim the spying was the work on a lone individual within the club would not be taken seriously.
We revealed last week that the person accused of spying on Middlesbrough is an intern in his early 20s. It is thought he deleted videos and pictures on his mobile phone when confronted by Boro staff, before running into the nearby Rockliffe Hall and changing clothes and fleeing the area.
Saints boss Tonda Eckert refused to answer questions on the accusations following the first leg at the Riverside Stadium, and the club did not hold a pre-match press conference ahead of Tuesday night's return game. If senior individuals within the club admit or are proven to have known about spying, it would raise serious questions over their future.
Hellberg accused Southampton of ‘cheating’ at the weekend and his club want Southampton’s punishment to be ‘sporting’ rather than a mere financial penalty, if found guilty.
The Boro head coach revealed on Monday that his squad practised penalty kicks last week, again highlighting the advantage Southampton could have gained by recording their session.
Hellberg chose to sidestep the majority of Spygate questions, but he did say: ‘I follow the rules. It’s very simple, very, very simple. It’s a question of rules, and we follow the rules. Then it’s the people who make the rules and how they’re going to stand up to the rules. That’s what it’s about (now).’
An EFL spokesperson declined to comment.
