Saints Charged With Spying on Mboro Training

[Holmes_and_Watson]

28 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I'd love to know how long he was there for before being discovered? Could have been five minutes for all we know. 

Just wait until they discover the tunnel complex. 

[DellBlockH]

43 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

The Guardian seem to have an agenda here. Their reporting of this from the start has been one sided. Is Gibson a Labour Party donor? That might explain it.

I think this is taking a conspiracy a bit far. I don't want to drag politics into it, but The Guardian hasn't really been a friend of Labour recently. 

I was just surprised that Barry Glendenning, in particular, saying that he wouldn't be surprised if we got severely punished for "cheating". In fairness to him, he did mention many of the other instances of cheating - Chelsea, Man City etc. But seemed to think we deserved a severe punishment. 

[Appy]

I do like how our side know it’s not good what we’ve appeared to have done but can have a laugh about it. 
 

Boro fans and local journos seem to be absolutely livid, every single one of them, it’s hardly crime of the century, weirdos. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Appy

[ChristopheVAFC]

Boro fans are really up for anything – but especially the worst!

Let’s not get drawn into their silly protests; give it your all at the stadium tomorrow, lads!

Let’s stay focused on our team and the goal of reaching the next round!

Come on Red's !

[beatlesaint]

Looks very much like aside from the feeding frenzy in the North East attention has turned to West Ham, Arsenal and good old VAR.

[badgerx16]

I predict that by the final whistle tomorrow, Middleborough will have been ejected from the playoffs.

[Maggie May]

9 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

To be fair to Simon Jordan he was very sensible. In so many words he thinks that it’s a storm in a teacup which should result in a fine and slapped wrists. As he says, Boro had their chance in that first half with the home advantage and blew it but they now have a ready made excuse if they get knocked out. Their manager is in a win win situation.

The bit I’d like to know more about in this Talkshite piece is the references to a “Whistleblower”. That can only suggest someone internally at Saints has spilled the beans about our alleged activities for the past few months. What utter bollocks. This only came about 72 hours ago. There is no “Whistleblower”. Pure media invention.

I'm confident they've used "whistleblower" in the incorrect context.  The "other clubs" line was reported by the Guardian, claiming they'd gone to them: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/10/southampton-spygate-middlesbrough-championship-playoffs

[Zorba]

10 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

My word 🤣🤣

https://www.change.org/p/championship-spygate-scandal-petition-calls-for-southampton-to-be-kicked-out-of-play?recruited_by_id=4982b120-4d45-11f1-a074-03987abf07b3&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=zCXChr5ydz

 

The board are getting desperate now!

 

[Toussaint]

9 minutes ago, trousers said:

An apt number of signatures perhaps....

 

69 - dinner for two with a terrible view

[Toussaint]

Just now, Zorba said:

 

The board are getting desperate now!

 

It is desperate, but not for sanctions, its desperation to distract and unsettle Saints. So preaching about good faith, spirit of the game etc is just  hypocritical.

[Saint Keef]

The food outlets on the concourse could offer 'DELICIOUS ALL STEAK (OUT) PUKKA SPIES)'

[hypochondriac]

To any Boro fans reading this - just beat us on the field of play tomorrow and then we can shake your hands and have no complaints. Equally if you lose don't go on a big whiny sulk and demand you replace us in the final. 

[UpweySaint]

58 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

The Guardian seem to have an agenda here. Their reporting of this from the start has been one sided. Is Gibson a Labour Party donor? That might explain it.

The Guardian inevitably has a left wing hue but the panelists are generally pulled from a range of outlets and tend to be fairly balanced - and pretty funny. The panel do talk about the Leeds precedent, the possible sanctions and draw comparisons to other ‘cheating’ including financial rule breaking which has led to fines and/or small points deductions.

IMO the most likely outcome is a suspended points deduction and a fine. Kicking us out of the play offs feels significant and we would clearly contest it - I don’t think the EFL can risk the play off final having a giant asterix next to it and promotion being subject to potential legal wrangling.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

To any Boro fans reading this - just beat us on the field of play tomorrow and then we can shake your hands and have no complaints. Equally if you lose don't go on a big whiny sulk and demand you replace us in the final. 

And it was going so well, until ...

[hypochondriac]

Boro making demands to the EFL now apparently. Again, it's wrongdoing that we have done and that will be determined by the independent body. Middlesbrough can make all the demands they like.

Edited 3 hours ago by hypochondriac

[Dman]

14 minutes ago, Zorba said:

 

The board are getting desperate now!

 

Is this real? I'd genuinely consider banning them from St Mary's if so. They way they have handled this is embarrassing and boarding on unprofessional. 

[RedArmy]

30 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

My word 🤣🤣

https://www.change.org/p/championship-spygate-scandal-petition-calls-for-southampton-to-be-kicked-out-of-play?recruited_by_id=4982b120-4d45-11f1-a074-03987abf07b3&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=zCXChr5ydz

 

They might as well have contacted the make a wish foundation. 
 

[Zorba]

2 minutes ago, Dman said:

Is this real? I'd genuinely consider banning them from St Mary's if so. They way they have handled this is embarrassing and boarding on unprofessional. 

It’s real. I tried to sign up as James Bond, but it put my real name up there instead. I had to retract my vote.. which is why it’s gone back down to 69 😂

[Midfield_General]

3 minutes ago, Dman said:

embarrassing and boarding on unprofessional. 

Tbf it's a little rich of us to accuse anyone of that, given the circumstances

[Dman]

1 minute ago, Midfield_General said:

Tbf it's a little rich of us to accuse anyone of that, given the circumstances

Complaint has been lodged with the EFL. Getting a load of jurnos to write up about their demands, feeding a frenzy of cry babies going online wont change that. 

Genuinely, i'd be more ashamed of my club for the way they have dealt with it than I am the fact we done it. 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

 

A bit more light hearted and far less judgemental than some of the hysteria that's come out from some pundits and journos.

[Saint Garrett]

6 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Tbf it's a little rich of us to accuse anyone of that, given the circumstances

Tbf, just because we're in the wrong (supposedly) doesnt excuse the way they've behaved throughout this. 

Their fans are also absolutely mental / deranged. The headloss is crazy.

[badgerx16]

If attempting to intimidate of the referee is against the Laws of football, surely what Boro are doing is attempting to intimidate the independent panel ?

Edited 2 hours ago by badgerx16

[revolution saint]

The more I think about this, the more I doubt this is an isolated incident.  I mean, 'Boro have failed to win in 8 of their last 10 games - I bet all those other 8 clubs were spying too.  

[hypochondriac]

We can all play that game and issue a load of fanciful things. Saints have made two demands to the EFL:

1) they let us off with a big fine and a public ticking off. 

2) they let us drink discounted pints in our seats next season.

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

To be fair to Simon Jordan he was very sensible. In so many words he thinks that it’s a storm in a teacup which should result in a fine and slapped wrists. As he says, Boro had their chance in that first half with the home advantage and blew it but they now have a ready made excuse if they get knocked out. Their manager is in a win win situation.

The bit I’d like to know more about in this Talkshite piece is the references to a “Whistleblower”. That can only suggest someone internally at Saints has spilled the beans about our alleged activities for the past few months. What utter bollocks. This only came about 72 hours ago. There is no “Whistleblower”. Pure media invention.

I believe it originated on a Boro fans forum - it appeared there on the day of the incident. One fan mentioned that a whistle blower was claiming analysts from other clubs knew that Saints had done this before.  They named the whistle blower and shortly after revealing his identity multiple Boro fans came on to say they knew of him and that he was just a shit stirrer who is always seeking attention and not reliable. They were very dismissive of him. I've not seen anything other than this and my take is that lazy journalists have joined the pile on without doing any proper research.

[saintant]

51 minutes ago, EssEffCee said:

My word 🤣🤣

https://www.change.org/p/championship-spygate-scandal-petition-calls-for-southampton-to-be-kicked-out-of-play?recruited_by_id=4982b120-4d45-11f1-a074-03987abf07b3&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&share_id=zCXChr5ydz

This petition seems to be gathering pace at the rate of a steam roller travelling uphill on Mount Everest.

[benjii]

We should start a petition and get way more signatures saying they aren't acting in good faith and deserve a sanction.

[saintant]

44 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Looks very much like aside from the feeding frenzy in the North East attention has turned to West Ham, Arsenal and good old VAR.

Tomorrow's chip paper wrappings.

[Toadhall Saint]

29 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Boro making demands to the EFL now apparently. Again, it's wrongdoing that we have done and that will be determined by the independent body. Middlesbrough can make all the demands they like.

Never heard of due process have they.

[hypochondriac]

Breaking news. The independent board were due to give us a slap on the wrist as early as today but someone has sent them the Boro fan petition and it looks like we could be in deep trouble.

[LGTL]

They’re the most pathetic, wet fanbase I’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing. You can really, really tell that they don’t have a proper rival. Absolute freaks. 

[whelk]

1 minute ago, LGTL said:

They’re the most pathetic, wet fanbase I’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing. You can really, really tell that they don’t have a proper rival. Absolute freaks. 

Yep and assume all the local Spoons will be full of these fat freaks with no money. Talking all weird like

Edited 2 hours ago by whelk

[saintant]

37 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

To any Boro fans reading this - just beat us on the field of play tomorrow and then we can shake your hands and have no complaints. Equally if you lose don't go on a big whiny sulk and demand you replace us in the final. 

We all know this is exactly what they'll do if they lose.

[RedArmy]

2 minutes ago, LGTL said:

They’re the most pathetic, wet fanbase I’ve ever had the misfortune of seeing. You can really, really tell that they don’t have a proper rival. Absolute freaks. 

Yeah I’m not really surprised Newcastle and Sunderland give them a wide berth. 

[whelk]

I still like Bob Mortimer though

[LGTL]

3 minutes ago, whelk said:

Yep and assume all the local Spoons will be full of these fat freaks with no money. Talking all weird like

I think most of them today were clapping in an airport terminal at 2.30 on a Monday afternoon. Say no more. 

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Or alternatively, goad them incessantly for sport until they explode

This is the way...

[Willo of Whiteley]

Absolute fannies.

[Sheaf Saint]

39 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

We can all play that game and issue a load of fanciful things. Saints have made two demands to the EFL:

1) they let us off with a big fine and a public ticking off. 

2) they let us drink discounted pints in our seats next season.

The EFL should treat this in the same way a referee on the pitch would deal with a player trying to get an opposition player carded. 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

57 minutes ago, Zorba said:

It’s real. I tried to sign up as James Bond, but it put my real name up there instead. I had to retract my vote.. which is why it’s gone back down to 69 😂

So, Zorba is Steve Gibson; who knew?
 

 

[Saint NL]

Looks like they settled for the third option, start an online petition 😂

[Miltonaggro]

53 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

The Guardian inevitably has a left wing hue but the panelists are generally pulled from a range of outlets and tend to be fairly balanced - and pretty funny. The panel do talk about the Leeds precedent, the possible sanctions and draw comparisons to other ‘cheating’ including financial rule breaking which has led to fines and/or small points deductions.

IMO the most likely outcome is a suspended points deduction and a fine. Kicking us out of the play offs feels significant and we would clearly contest it - I don’t think the EFL can risk the play off final having a giant asterix next to it and promotion being subject to potential legal wrangling.

In terms of Saints contesting the nuclear option, the clubs reasonable response would be swift and highly public litigation which I strongly feel SFC would likely win (with damages, restitution, and costs).  The EFL, and their advisors (at South Square) are not stupid enough to risk opening that multimillion pound can of worms in my view. 

[Football Special]

55 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Tbf, just because we're in the wrong (supposedly) doesnt excuse the way they've behaved throughout this. 

Their fans are also absolutely mental / deranged. The headloss is crazy.

If we lose they will be utterly unbearable gloating about it, and if we win i think the club will have gained social media stalkers for life who will continue to cry and moan about how unfair it all is 

[EssEffCee]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

To any Boro fans reading this - just beat us on the field of play tomorrow and then we can shake your hands and have no complaints. Equally if you lose don't go on a big whiny sulk and demand you replace us in the final. 

I'd rather they did personally, great entertainment.

[Cuddles]

1 minute ago, Football Special said:

If we lose they will be utterly unbearable gloating about it, and if we win i think the club will have gained social media stalkers for life who will continue to cry and moan about how unfair it all is 

So in summary, they are an unbearable bunch of knobheads.

[Football Special]

34 minutes ago, LGTL said:

I think most of them today were clapping in an airport terminal at 2.30 on a Monday afternoon. Say no more. 

Just seen that, this whole saga has had a profound impact on them, looks like some even kept kids off school to head down the airport and wave the players off 

[sfc4prem]

2 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Just seen that, this whole saga has had a profound impact on them, looks like some even kept kids off school to head down the airport and wave the players off 

Fucking nutters. You'd think they'd never been in the PL before or something, the levels of desperate, rage-filled anxiety is freakish.

[SWLondon Saint]

One final thing - whatever the rights and wrongs may be in this case, I would bet that literally every club is doing all of it and more, whatever any fans may think of their club being 'above dirty tactics'. It's an arms race out there and everyone has the same info these days.

[Tom57]

Simon Jordan clearly found the whole thing absolutely hilarious and it is quite farcical to be honest.

In terms of Middlesbrough saying other clubs think we've probably spied it probably is something along the lines of:

MB: Southampton have been spying on us and probably have been doing it all season! They probably spied on you!

Other team: Yeah mate that's terrible. I wouldn't be surprised if they had been. *Goes back to whatever else they were doing*

But in order for us to get done for it multiple times through the season:

 

1) We'd have to have thought we could get away with doing it and actually be able to spy, most training grounds don't have convenient golf courses right next to them, especially not Arsenal as some Middlesbrough fans are implying we spied on. It's like a fortress at their training ground

2) AND the club we spied on will have to want to look through all their CCTV. Wrexham and Derby might but I can't imagine Sheffield utd or Preston NE care enough to spend hours trawling through CCTV

3) AND they'll have to actually spot our operative rather than just miss him in all the bushes and whatever

4) AND the person in question will have to be obviously affiliated with Southampton and not possibly be just some overzealous fan, which may be very difficult if they're crouched in a bush 100m away from the camera 

 

What would be especially funny is it other clubs start looking and find spies from other clubs, possibly even Middlesbrough!