hypochondriac

I must say that although I still don't think they will be able to kick us out it is slightly disconcerting that people with ITK info like @Saint_lambden and @MB are the most pessimistic.

Moving the final would really be the absolute nuclear option and would be the very last thing the efl would want. I can't see it in any way likely.

Because prior to the hearing taking place all cards are still on the table and nothing is being ruled out. Doesn't make it likely though.

There is no approaching. As Simon Jordan said they've already spoken at board room level and thus far our holding statement and not admitting things more readily has pissed off Gibson. Whether when we conclude our investigation and heads roll we will see him more conciliatory after some compensation remains to be seen.

It's good tactics from boro to leak to Northern journalists in order to string this out and maximise their hand for compensation. Simon Jordan has spoken to Steve Gibson and he's already said that's what he wants because he knows there is no chance of getting kicked out. He wants a pay off from Southampton and in return he will water down his submissions or at least not push as hard. Whether we give in to his demands as the least worst option I have no idea

And if they subsequently use the information gleaned from the credit card for any investigation they'll take a dim view of that too.

Exactly and Simon Jordan has alluded to the fact that Steve Gibson knows we won't get kicked out and is fishing for cash.

We simply won't accept any move to remove us from the final lying down. They can't just remove us tomorrow if that's what they decide and the that's the end of the matter and Middlesbrough end up at Wembley.

Let's do a thought experiment and imagine they announce they are kicking us out tomorrow. We obviously won't just allow that to happen and will be sending lawyers in to contest it left right and centre. As @Miltonaggro alluded to, we will be applying for all sorts of injunctions and court petitions and they absolutely won't just be able to do that without consequence. This is the real world and the efl will know this.

If anyone seriously thinks they will even contemplate moving the final at this stage then you're clinically insane.

All these journalists are very annoying. Just because nothing has been ruled out doesn't mean that a particular course of action is in any way likely to happen. I haven't ruled out winning the lottery and running off with Sydney Sweeney but it doesn't mean it's going to happen.

It would if you wanted to project an image of business as usual. Not that I think we will get kicked out.

Wouldn't surprise me. Or at least the prospect of not being in the final will be removed from the table. You'd have to think it will be Monday at the very latest.

100%. They wouldn't be able to kick us out now and if they attempted to do so the legal fallout means they wouldn't be able to forcibly remove us from the final at this stage anyhow.

Or the efl don't want us advertising tickets until the investigation is concluded.

Maybe it's a double bluff and we told him to look really amateurish with shit jeans so no one could possibly believe that it was anything other than a lone wolf.

I think worth reading that post by Miltonaggro. If they attempt to kick us out they could get themselves in a lot more trouble.

Also they haven't even heard the case yet or any mitigation from our end. No one will consider us getting booted out to be likely at this stage.

Middlesbrough would have no idea about how likely an outcome would be. It's an independent disciplinary panel.

Of course Steve Gibson can access the video of his own cctv in the hotel that he owns.

Unless they had him on cctv using his credit card to buy the coffee?

Agreed. I don't think they'd be leaking this to the media otherwise. Simon Jordan wouldn't be talking about making a deal with Gibson unless he'd been told that by the man himself.

No they need to persuade a disciplinary panel on the balance of probabilities that we had engaged in this before. If they managed to get a load of circumstantial evidence then that may be sufficient.

The suggestion is that he can use the bank details to look to see if there are other transactions made at other companies in the area near training grounds a few days before our games.

Not the other companies who may have that info he doesn't.