Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[adrian lord]

if Boro don't beat Hull the Saints v Boro games next season will be spicy to say the least. 

Edited 8 hours ago by adrian lord

[iansums]

Do we know if Spors was directly involved in this?

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Saint NL said:

I'm now of the opinion that as long as we're not in the final then I want as much carnage as possible. Burn the whole thing to the ground and let the fun begin 

 

 

I wouldn't blame Hull City at all, or Wrexham for that matter. Lots will have a case. This will be a mess that will not be over in a week, or two, or 10.

Is there also a possibility that this just opens an entire avalanche of worms? and other clubs, and ourselves, start presenting evidence of other cheating activities which we've just kept on the low down up until this point? Who knows.

It all feels a mess, the EFL have just fucked it in my eyes for every fan. Which they always do. Look at their incompetence with their fit and proper persons tests, the bloody morons.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Nolan said:

which goes back to the point, if the Knockout competition is being taken on its own, why are previous games not in the same competition being used as aggravating factors.?

How do we know they are? We haven't seen the written reasons yet.

[Nolan]

the legally cleanest option for the EFL is to reinstate Southampton

You'll only have Gibson complaining, not multiple clubs.

[LegalEagle]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I wouldn't blame Hull City at all, or Wrexham for that matter. Lots will have a case. This will be a mess that will not be over in a week, or two, or 10.

Is there also a possibility that this just opens an entire avalanche of worms? and other clubs, and ourselves, start presenting evidence of other cheating activities which we've just kept on the low down up until this point? Who knows.

It all feels a mess, the EFL have just fucked it in my eyes for every fan. Which they always do. Look at their incompetence with their fit and proper persons tests, the bloody morons.

I have a feeling that this could be the next big chapter in this story - other clubs unveiled. There must be a high potential for other whistleblowers to come forward across the country who have information on their former employers and what they got up to. Absolutely no way are we the only club involved in this kind of act.

[James]

More and more stories about how harsh the sanction is and the possibility of more legal proceedings as a result. Don’t necessarily think it’ll make a difference for us tonight but the EFL have screwed this up royally. If Boro win on Saturday they will have hell to pay on multiple fronts. 

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, Nolan said:

the legally cleanest option for the EFL is to reinstate Southampton

You'll only have Gibson complaining, not multiple clubs.

Perhaps, but it's not up to the EFL now.

[do i not like fizzy pop]

4 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

I think the direction of the wind is changing today. It's all gonna come down to one senior legal expert reviewing the decision made yesterday and whether it was proportionate or not.

I've got wind. Does that help? 

[saintant]

51 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Agree with Hull that if we are expelled they should get a walkover. Lawyers are going to have a big pay day.

Money talks so never going to happen.

[Suhari]

2 hours ago, Addict54 said:

Statement out

Should never have hired him in the first place.

 

[Sunglasses Ron]

5 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I wouldn't blame Hull City at all, or Wrexham for that matter. Lots will have a case. This will be a mess that will not be over in a week, or two, or 10.

Is there also a possibility that this just opens an entire avalanche of worms? and other clubs, and ourselves, start presenting evidence of other cheating activities which we've just kept on the low down up until this point? Who knows.

It all feels a mess, the EFL have just fucked it in my eyes for every fan. Which they always do. Look at their incompetence with their fit and proper persons tests, the bloody morons.

You can only imagine what will happen if other whistleblowers start coming out of the cracks making substantiated claims of spying by other clubs.  This could bring down all of English football based on the precedent set by our punishment.

[trousers]

13 minutes ago, Dman said:

For what its worth, I've been told we had some mitigating evidence against the whistleblower and that this is a widly carried out activity. 

Don't know a lot more than that though. 

Would be somewhat amusing if the whisteblower that brought us down is the same person that also has the evidence of other clubs doing it to.... just hope one of those other clubs is Middlesbrough, for maximum chortle factor

[Saint NL]

Top story on BBC Sport. Poor arsenal aren't even the top story 😢

[Saint NL]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

Would be somewhat amusing if the whisteblower that brought us down is the same person that also has the evidence of other clubs doing it to.... just hope one of those other clubs is Middlesbrough, for maximum chortle factor

If there are double agents, then I just can't believe Wrexham aren't involved as that's pure Hollywood.

[hypochondriac]

Southampton should publically say as part of their duty to stop these disgraceful acts of cheating we will offer significant amounts of money to anyone from other championship clubs who have any hard evidence of this sort of cheating from other clubs. Wouldn't help us but could be fun.

[LegalEagle]

If the EFL were serious about stopping this and dealing with the problem now they should be offering rewards to whistleblowers to come forward so that they can understand the extent of the problem. Software companies do this to stop piracy.

[saintant]

50 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

...but delivered in such a sappy, mealy-mouthed way, long after the horse has bolted that it basically carries no weight as a threat whatsoever.

Reply from the EFL: "Thanks for the offer Phil, but we're a bit busy trying to sort out the play-off final which you and your band of wankers screwed up for literally everybody to be organising any working groups. Speak later x"

I think it's more a case of Parsons letting the EFL know that we are fully aware this goes on wholesale. If we have proof so much the better.

[S-Clarke]

Just now, trousers said:

Would be somewhat amusing if the whisteblower that brought us down is the same person that also has the evidence of other clubs doing it to.... just hope one of those other clubs is Middlesbrough, for maximum chortle factor

Wouldn't it be a plot twist if originally, when this whistle-blower was at Boro before he joined us, he was actually spying on us - so we employed him to protect ourselves so he didn't share anything with other clubs.

That would be the ultimate mic drop moment in footballing history. So, so, far fetched, but this has all been far fetched.

[trousers]

11 minutes ago, iansums said:

Do we know if Spors was directly involved in this?

One of our new 'validated' ITKs posted earlier that he was.... IIRC 

[hypochondriac]

Just now, LegalEagle said:

If the EFL were serious about stopping this and dealing with the problem now they should be offering rewards to whistleblowers to come forward so that they can understand the extent of the problem. Software companies do this to stop piracy.

They haven't acknowledged the problem is widespread though have they.

[PerthshireSaint]

[The Wyvern]

4 minutes ago, LegalEagle said:

I have a feeling that this could be the next big chapter in this story - other clubs unveiled. There must be a high potential for other whistleblowers to come forward across the country who have information on their former employers and what they got up to. Absolutely no way are we the only club involved in this kind of act.

What would be in it for any other whistleblower? We were a unique situation with the timing of our game and their relationship with Middlesbrough.

 

I’m sure there’s tons of dodgy grey area stuff going on in the background across football, but you need a lot of things to come together at one time for it to spill out in the open like it has for us. 

[dsr-burnley]

13 minutes ago, Nolan said:

which goes back to the point, if the Knockout competition is being taken on its own, why are previous games not in the same competition being used as aggravating factors.?

I suspect the reason for mentioning previous games is that it removes the possible defence about the spy exceeding his authority and the boss didn't know about it.

[LegalEagle]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

They haven't acknowledged the problem is widespread though have they.

But they have a duty to find out if it is.

[Saint86]

15 minutes ago, Nolan said:

which goes back to the point, if the Knockout competition is being taken on its own, why are previous games not in the same competition being used as aggravating factors.?

Loophole?

Certainly makes you think.

[Mboto Gorge]

8 minutes ago, Nolan said:

the legally cleanest option for the EFL is to reinstate Southampton

You'll only have Gibson complaining, not multiple clubs.

Which again brings me to the conclusion that the decision was made to solely appease Gibson and Boro and avoid any potential lawsuit from him over a verdict he didn’t like. Nice one EFL. 

[saintant]

49 minutes ago, TheSoundman said:

That's the official statement for the purposes of the media and public generally.

If we think it's rife and can prove it, then the message will be made much clearer to the EFL. Prepare for a shit storm.

This is how I read between the lines.

[gurru991]

I understand that Leicester think that Southampton spied on them at their training ground prior to beating them 4-3 on Feb 10th. They feel that those points represent the reason for their relegation & are demanding that Southampton should be relegated instead of them.

😂🤣😂

[S-Clarke]

Just now, Mboto Gorge said:

Which again brings me to the conclusion that the decision was made to solely appease Gibson and Boro and avoid any potential lawsuit from him over a verdict he didn’t like. Nice one EFL. 

It does stink because the punishment we've got is almost word for word what Boro wanted, which they even 'requested' on their website a few days ago.

And somehow, lots of Boro ITK's seemed to know this was going to happen in the run up as well.

The whole thing stinks top to bottom. No one comes out of this smelling of roses.

[LegalEagle]

1 minute ago, The Wyvern said:

What would be in it for any other whistleblower? We were a unique situation with the timing of our game and their relationship with Middlesbrough.

 

I’m sure there’s tons of dodgy grey area stuff going on in the background across football, but you need a lot of things to come together at one time for it to spill out in the open like it has for us. 

Angry ex-employees - that’s what’s in it for them. Amazing how disgruntled ex-employees are prepared to do anything. I see it regularly. Especially if the EFL offered a reward with it.

[Dman]

7 minutes ago, trousers said:

Would be somewhat amusing if the whisteblower that brought us down is the same person that also has the evidence of other clubs doing it to.... just hope one of those other clubs is Middlesbrough, for maximum chortle factor

I personally think the first part will be thrown out as not relevant at this stage. We've admitted it. 

If we do have evidence of other clubs doing the same thing, it does some what mitigate the seriouness of it however. 

[trousers]

10 minutes ago, Sunglasses Ron said:

You can only imagine what will happen if other whistleblowers start coming out of the cracks making substantiated claims of spying by other clubs.  This could bring down all of English football based on the precedent set by our punishment.

🤞🙏

[Saint86]

2 minutes ago, gurru991 said:

I understand that Leicester think that Southampton spied on them at their training ground prior to beating them 4-3 on Feb 10th. They feel that those points represent the reason for their relegation & are demanding that Southampton should be relegated instead of them.

😂🤣😂

But we literally have them a 3 goal head start FFS. Boro wanted that as a punishment in the play offs...

[Saint86]

11 minutes ago, Sunglasses Ron said:

You can only imagine what will happen if other whistleblowers start coming out of the cracks making substantiated claims of spying by other clubs.  This could bring down all of English football based on the precedent set by our punishment.

Saints should offer significant reward sums for hard evidence. Make it public.

[Convict Colony]

The fallout across this league will run and run until the next season kicks off at least.

Its a facinating car crash viewing, the EFL, us, other teams.

 

[S-Clarke]

11 minutes ago, Sunglasses Ron said:

You can only imagine what will happen if other whistleblowers start coming out of the cracks making substantiated claims of spying by other clubs.  This could bring down all of English football based on the precedent set by our punishment.

Depends how much said clubs will pay the FA/EFL to keep it on the hush though, as let's be fair - that's all it will come down to at the end of the day. Nothing is about sporting fairness or what's best for the fans, it's all about money, money, money. 

Edited 7 hours ago by S-Clarke

[Mboto Gorge]

5 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It does stink because the punishment we've got is almost word for word what Boro wanted, which they even 'requested' on their website a few days ago.

And somehow, lots of Boro ITK's seemed to know this was going to happen in the run up as well.

The whole thing stinks top to bottom. No one comes out of this smelling of roses.

Exactly. Especially given the rumours that the EFL nudged the panel into pushing for expulsion. Gibson had gone on public record several times saying if we weren’t expelled he would take the strongest possible legal action. They made their decision based on who they thought they could battle an appeal from best, and they decided it wasn’t Gibson. What the thick twats didn’t realise was, they would now open a huge can of worms by which several other clubs would now make a claim for legal action . Ridiculous but not surprising. A total shitshow resulting from a very clearly outside influenced decision. The lack of transparency or reasonableness in the decision has been unbelievable. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[Saint Scott]

21 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

I'm now of the opinion that as long as we're not in the final then I want as much carnage as possible. Burn the whole thing to the ground and let the fun begin 

 

 

The EFL bought this on themselves, wait for Millwall and Wrexham to follow suit

[Harry_SFC]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

It does stink because the punishment we've got is almost word for word what Boro wanted, which they even 'requested' on their website a few days ago.

And somehow, lots of Boro ITK's seemed to know this was going to happen in the run up as well.

The whole thing stinks top to bottom. No one comes out of this smelling of roses.

The fact Boro have their Chief Executive on the board is just wrong here. Yes it was an independent panel, but they have immediately re-instated Middlesbrough. Nothing fishy of course....

[skintsaint]

Southampton FC has formally requested immediate reinstatement to the Championship play-off final, arguing that allowing the originally scheduled fixture to proceed represents “the legally cleanest and least disruptive resolution available to the EFL.”

In correspondence sent to the League on Thursday evening, the club’s legal representatives warned that enforcing the sanctions prior to the completion of the appeals process would create “significant and unnecessary legal exposure” for the competition and risk “serious and irreparable sporting prejudice.”

Southampton’s position is understood to be that any final determination regarding sanctions should be concluded after the play-offs rather than in the days immediately preceding Wembley, with the club insisting that removing one finalist at this stage would undermine the integrity of the competition.

The club is also believed to have argued that Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson exerted undue influence over the process through repeated representations to the League and disciplinary panel, with Southampton privately questioning whether the proceedings remained fully independent throughout.

Sources close to the matter suggest Southampton’s legal team believes reinstatement pending appeal would minimise the likelihood of extended litigation and avoid further complications surrounding fixture preparation, broadcasting obligations, and sporting fairness.

The EFL has so far declined to comment publicly while the appeal process remains ongoing.

[Convict Colony]

Just now, Saint86 said:

Saints should offer significant reward sums for hard evidence. Make it public.

Id have 25 private detectives assigned to steve gibson and boro all of the season.

[revolution saint]

Is there actually any allegations of other clubs spying?  From what I can tell it's a bit of hearsay and conjecture.  My guess is nothing comes out to support it.

Edited 7 hours ago by revolution saint

[davefizzy14]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

The fact Boro have their Chief Executive on the board is just wrong here. Yes it was an independent panel, but they have immediately re-instated Middlesbrough. Nothing fishy of course....

Yeah all bloody wrong! I really hope we've got top lawyers involved in this.

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, Saint Marky said:

I haven’t gone back through the thread too far, so pissed off, to see if already posted, but I’ve just found an email in junk from Wembley Parking asking what team I’m supporting. Went on Wembley Parking and it’s now changed to Middlesbrough and available for them to book. It also states this:

Please note due to the change in competing teams for the SkyBet Championship Playoff Final to be held at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23rd May 2026 all Southampton supporter bookings will be automatically refunded. Public sales for Middlesbrough supporters will be available to book from 13:15 on Wednesday 20th May 2026. If you have any queries relating to parking for this event please use the live chat or email info@epdataservices.com. 

I haven’t asked for a refund, was going to wait for the verdict, just in case (but I feel now with all the things changed for a Middlesbrough final, don’t believe it will be reversed again) I don’t know if that means I will lose my money, as obviously it will go past the 72 hour period for a refund. What a fucking mess this whole saga is, laughable really, a kid with an iPhone behind a tree, what the fuck were they thinking.

Not sure parking for Wembley will be one of the criteria in this that prevents the appeals panel from reinstating Saints. 

[Toussaint]

5pm TalkSPORT discussion on our sanctions.

[trousers]

Yay! It's only taken me just over 6 hours this time, but I'm now back 'live' again! Just in time for the forum to crash again once the appeal verdict is released.... 😂

[egg]

22 minutes ago, saintant said:

The fact that we have yet to sack Eckert or anyone else should have zero influence on how those judging the appeal come to their decision. Absolutely zero because it has no relevance.

I agree that what we do between the decision and the appeal matters little, but what we did to address our conduct pre decision would have made a difference. Having the people who'd done wrong still in position, isn't the best look. 

[Saint_clark]

Just now, trousers said:

Yay! It's only taken me just over 6 hours this time, but I'm now back 'live' again! Just in time for the forum to crash again once the appeal verdict is released.... 😂

Welcome back Trousers...

 

[Mboto Gorge]

3 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

The fact Boro have their Chief Executive on the board is just wrong here. Yes it was an independent panel, but they have immediately re-instated Middlesbrough. Nothing fishy of course....

Simon Jordan who has lots of connections and knows the Boro boardroom very well, has gone on record saying the EFL have pushed the panel into the direction of expelling saints. How convenient