hypochondriac

Our intern was at their ground. Alfie House and Adam have both said we aren't contesting it and have admitted privately that it has happened. They will obviously know. I can't see any scenario where we deny that we were spying, even if we try to mitigate things by suggesting he was a lone wolf.

Extremely unlikely given we haven't contested the charges and we are basically bang to rights.

The main realistic outcomes are these: The independent commission recommends that we are kicked out of the playoffs. We will of course appeal, apply for injunctions etc. Under that there is no way that the final will be able to be played without us. Not sure what happens from there, maybe it's delayed but seems unlikely to be sorted quickly. We don't get kicked out and get some other sanction. Clearly in that circumstance Steve Gibson will take legal action against us and along with some sort of sanction we will probably end up having to pay Middlesbrough separately in a settlement to go away. This will probably be a few million and likely to be expensive along with a points deduction next year and a fine to the efl.

There is no verdict. The case hasn't even started yet.

Left in January. Looks like the one.

He said we will have already spoken in the boardroom at the away game so I'm sure we are aware of his terms.

Yeah I agree and Simon Jordan has said as much and he's spoken to Gibson.

Which we would clearly.

I must say I'm quite surprised Middlesbrough haven't just been really quiet about all this until the case is over. All the leaking and all the headlines are obviously being done to maximise the pressure and not any sign of confidence on their part.

Is it the efl who set the penalty or the independent panel? What do you make of the random rumour that there's a paper trail back to spors and we've been engaging in it since the summer?

They submit all the evidence they have to the independent bloke of systemic cheating. They believe it's compelling but it doesn't mean that the independent board will agree.

True. How do you see it playing out? Simon Jordan had spoken to Gibson and suggested we do a private deal with Middlesbrough but it seems things have progressed past that point.

All a bit different now. Reports saying that boro think they have built a compelling case to have us kicked out. That's rather different from some of the reporting over the last few days and is surely subjective.

They won't do what they want. Our lawyers won't let them.

Am not surprised. What's your prediction for how this plays out.

Blimey I agree with soggy!

Yes you might not for that but I won't be staying overnight and I imagine most saints fans will get the train or drive which can be done at the last minute if you're sensible.

Fuck off no it doesn't. Not a chance are they selling you tickets to a playoff final that doesn't happen and then they keep the money.

I can't either but I would imagine that's the nuclear option and out of the hands of the efl if the independent panel boots us out and we appeal then they don't really have a choice because they won't be able to resolve things prior to next Saturday.

Less than 0% chance that happens.

No they are saying that tickets will be on sale prior to that but that if there is a change we would get refunded and they'd have to postpone things.

Let's say they ask for bank statements and phone records as suggested in some media. How on earth are they going to get all that together prior to Tuesday of next week? They've got no chance.

Don't the efl have to abide by the decision of the independent panel? So all this bollpcks about what the efl want and what has been decided is just bollocks. If this is being done properly then there is currently zero indication of what the independent panel will decide as they haven't had the hearing and looked at the evidence formally yet. Everything else is just noise.

Indeed. The bit about the high court injunction feels likely if they go nuclear but worth pointing out that the post also assumes that this was a one off and not systemic.

I'm not sure that's overly relevant given that we are the ones in the playoff final. Maybe see if we can catch hull doing it as well!