Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[Saint NL]

Hearing starts at 6pm, right?

So the verdict of "lol no" will be known by 6:02pm.

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

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.

Where's this from? Cheers 👍

[skintsaint]

1 minute ago, Saint NL said:

Hearing starts at 6pm, right?

So the verdict of "lol no" will be known by 6:02pm.

Sounds a fair hearing, see you in court.

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

5pm TalkSPORT discussion on our sanctions.

Oh joy... thanks for the heads up to watch The Chase....

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

There is a lot of contrition in that statement, I would imagine that the oral submission today would be much more robust than round one, effectively reading the EFL its horoscope. 

Yes and I hear the panel are said to be of a higher legal standing than the first lot. Whether that goes for or against us is another matter.

[skintsaint]

Just now, trousers said:

Where's this from? Cheers 👍

ChatGPT, why it mentions a random Thursday in there

 

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

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 

"Perverting the course of justice" then....?

And does "The EFL" include the Boro CEO geezer...?

There's definitely a stink in the air....

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, skintsaint said:

ChatGPT, why it mentions a random Thursday in there

 

When they said AI would take our jobs I didn't realise it extended to talking bollocks on a football forum too.

Edited 1 hour ago by Saint_clark

[skintsaint]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

When they said AI would take our jobs I didn't realise it extended to talking bollocks on a football forum too.

😅

[ItchenRob]

7 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....

He's not on the EFL board if that's the board you were referring to.

 

Happy to be proved wrong 😇

[Mboto Gorge]

Basically they’re shit scared of another Gibson lawsuit and he’s exerted pressure deliberately knowing this full well. So the decision has been far from independent. The fact the punishment was word for word what Boro wanted is fucking laughable combined with Gibsons threats if he didn’t get what he wanted, along with their CEO on the EFL board. This should be challenged the hell out of. 

[Turkish]

4 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

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 

so it wasn't independant then if they are being influenced to make a decision whichever way it went

[trousers]

Just now, Turkish said:

so it wasn't independant then if they are being influenced to make a decision whichever way it went

Precisely.... surely a decent lawyer would be all over this like a rash?

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[franniesTache]

So we might be playing hull at 4:30 on saturday, middlesborough might be playing hull at wembley at 3:30 on saturday, hull might be taking the EFL to court to go up with no game, and Wrexham are considering suing the EFL for not being included in it in the first place?

Saints are so massive we've broken the play offs 🤣🤣🤣

Edited 1 hour ago by franniesTache

[sockeye]

5 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

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 

They needed someone to play the final and the easy way out is to replace us with Boro

[Pamplemousse]

I see Hull are threatening legal action too but over the decision to reinstate Boro lol.

I'd like to see Gibbo try to take on these Turkish owners of theirs

[saintant]

39 minutes ago, adrian lord said:

We are, I presume, appealing the sentence, not the conviction. The panel for the hearing yesterday would have been chaired by a KC, and so I presume the appeal today will be heard by another panel, chaired by another KC. 

Given that, I jolly well hope that we have instructed a heavyweight KC to represent us, nothing else will do. It is our only hope but it is very slim. The problem being, there's no halfway house compromise sanction vis a vis the playoffs that could be conceivably imposed as far as I can see. It is binary: either reinstatement or not, and to reverse that would cause far more trouble for the EFL than you could ever imagine. I think the best we can hope for is the point deduction being waived. Big deal...whoopy dos..

This shouldn't influence the appeal panel's decision. Their objective should be to decide whether or not the punishment of expulsion is too severe. 

[Mboto Gorge]

Just now, Turkish said:

so it wasn't independant then if they are being influenced to make a decision whichever way it went

That’s how it appears , yes. The Talksport piece is available online. I know it’s Talksport but Jordan was adamant that’s how the hearing was swayed. 

[trousers]

Just now, Pamplemousse said:

I see Hull are threatening legal action too but over the decision to reinstate Boro lol.

I'd like to see Gibbo try to take on these Turkish owners of theirs

@Turkish you dark horse, you!

[trousers]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

This shouldn't influence the appeal panel's decision. Their objective should be to decide whether or not the punishment of expulsion is too severe. 

Unless, as Simon Jordan is insinuating, they are under pressure / influence from the EFL....?

[RedArmy]

3 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Basically they’re shit scared of another Gibson lawsuit and he’s exerted pressure deliberately knowing this full well. So the decision has been far from independent. The fact the punishment was word for word what Boro wanted is fucking laughable combined with Gibsons threats if he didn’t get what he wanted, along with their CEO on the EFL board. This should be challenged the hell out of. 

So they thought they’d back themselves into lawsuits from Saints, Hull, Wrexham and possibly Millwall instead. 
 

Makes sense. But it is the EFL I guess. 

[Turkish]

24 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.

GIven what they've given us, lets say it comes out that Coventry or Ipswich had been spying, would they be relegated back to the championship starting with a 4 point penalty? The severity if our punishment is going to set a very dangerous precedent if there are any future cases, if it goes on all the time then maybe this wont be the only case of it.

[CanadaSaint]

The worm that is the British media is starting to turn. Last week WE were the target of their sensationalizing, but they're now turning on the EFL.

It would be interesting to know if there’s been any backroom dialogue between the Premier League and the EFL. This impacts the PL as well – especially if the EFL reinstates Saints but imposes a points penalty, and then expects the PL to implement the penalty for something that they don’t construe as illegal.

[Dman]

Can someone more clued up than I am explain what Gibson could realistically sue the EFL for? 

[Saint_clark]

Just now, RedArmy said:

So they thought they’d back themselves into lawsuits from Saints, Hull, Wrexham and possibly Millwall instead. 
 

Makes sense. But it is the EFL I guess. 

They've created a situation now where no matter what happens they're going to face serious legal action. 

None of this would be happening if they'd just decided on a punishment when they made it a law.

[Forester]

13 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

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.

Thanks for posting this, what is source?

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, franniesTache said:

So we might be playing hull at 4:30 on saturday, middlesborough might be playing hull at wembley at 3:30 on saturday, hull might be taking the EFL to court to go up with no game, and Wrexham are considering suing the EFL for not being included in it in the first place?

Saints are so massive we've broken the play offs 🤣🤣🤣

and still since i said we'd never lose again, we are in fact, unbeaten.

[Nolan]

whoever art the forum ITks' can someone make sure the club know about Simon Jordans assertions

 

[Mboto Gorge]

1 minute ago, RedArmy said:

So they thought they’d back themselves into lawsuits from Saints, Hull, Wrexham and possibly Millwall instead. 
 

Makes sense. But it is the EFL I guess. 

I expect The idiots were so consumed with kissing Gibsons arse they clearly didn’t think of that. 

[MB]

Can we have a sweepstake? Y or N on appeal. I actually think we will be reinstated. Call it gut feeling or whatever, but can see another twist and turn yet. 

Dont get me wrong have zero faith in our legal team and had we appointed that Di Marco chap like Gibbocunt did we probably wouldn’t be in this mess. That said the decision is farcical and I think there is hope with a reasonable counter argument 

[Dman]

Just now, Dman said:

Can someone more clued up than I am explain what Gibson could realistically sue the EFL for? 

further to this, given the EFL have clearly pushed for the harsest possible sentance, if a judge override upon appeal, does that essentially mean that Boro do not have a leg to stand on in terms of any legal claim?

[Saint_clark]

Just now, Turkish said:

and still since i said we'd never lose again, we are in fact, unbeaten.

😂 All set for a club takeover in the summer meaning next season we are a "different" club, meaning your prediction stays correct forever. 

[S-Clarke]

Just now, RedArmy said:

So they thought they’d back themselves into lawsuits from Saints, Hull, Wrexham and possibly Millwall instead. 
 

Makes sense. But it is the EFL I guess. 

This is the same EFL who approved the takeover of that guy at Wigan, who bought the club, only to dump them into administration, and then promptly did over Wigan again by docking them loads of points. Wigan are now forever a lower league team because of it.

Clueless bunch.

[JxgrSaint2]

Stolen from r/Championship

Edited 1 hour ago by JxgrSaint2

[RedArmy]

2 minutes ago, Nolan said:

whoever art the forum ITks' can someone make sure the club know about Simon Jordans assertions

 

The club were there I’m sure they know. 

[leesaint88]

30 minutes ago, James said:

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. 

On the plus side. If Boro do go up then they won’t have the top chair as the championship rep to the EFL, we take over that and when those sorry little Karen arses finally drop back. Just block Gibbos number.

[Dman]

2 minutes ago, MB said:

Can we have a sweepstake? Y or N on appeal. I actually think we will be reinstated. Call it gut feeling or whatever, but can see another twist and turn yet. 

Dont get me wrong have zero faith in our legal team and had we appointed that Di Marco chap like Gibbocunt did we probably wouldn’t be in this mess. That said the decision is farcical and I think there is hope with a reasonable counter argument 

No chance in my opinon. We've broken the rules, with no precedent to fall back on, I think we're royally fucked. 

Much like you, had we had a decent defense lawyer.. things maybe different. 

[Saint_clark]

3 minutes ago, Dman said:

Can someone more clued up than I am explain what Gibson could realistically sue the EFL for? 

Being unfit as a regulator for the competition and incorrectly enforcing the rules or something I imagine.

[Leighsterrr]

Who'd have thought that yesterday we were cheering this thread on to get to 100 pages and here we are about to hit 200 at the point tonight's announcement is made!

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

Being unfit as a regulator for the competition and incorrectly enforcing the rules or something I imagine.

sounds exactly what we should be suing them for

 

[Fabrice29]

16 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

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 

Wait until you hear that Southampton were pushing the panel into not expelling Saints and are still doing so today!!!

[saintant]

25 minutes 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. 

The point is it's pretty well acknowledged that this sort of thing is rife so it'll be fairly difficult to keep it quiet if others have done it because the severity of yesterdays decision brought this misdemeanour front and central. Can't see how it can be swept under the carpet if all and sundry know it's going on as seems to be the case.

[Nolan]

4 minutes ago, RedArmy said:

The club were there I’m sure they know. 

assertion is this was external to the panel

[Saint_clark]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

Wait until you hear that Southampton were pushing the panel into not expelling Saints and are still doing so today!!!

Difference is we are involved in the commission, Boro were specifically told they wouldn't be allowed in...

[LGTL]

The EFL have unwittingly tied themselves in knots. They are opening themselves up to lawsuits by about 5 different clubs. I really felt we had zero chance in this appeal, but as the day goes on, rumours of it being a much more experienced KC, and a single person panel….

[RedArmy]

What a complete and utter mess the EFL have created with this decision. 
 

It’s only going to get messier in the next few hours too. 

 

For anyone that wants to reply with their wahhh wahhh it’s saints fault for doing it not the EFL spiel . Don’t bother, nobody cares, shut up. 
 

 

[trousers]

I know the transcript was posted earlier but here's a video clip of the David Bernstein interview from this morning....

Good question from Nick Robinson on how big clubs are seemingly treated differently to smaller clubs. 

 

 

[Costa del Solent]

At the risk of alienating myself here… is anyone else kind of enjoying just sitting back and watching English football descend into total administrative collapse ?? 
 

 

[TheSoundman]

Apparently Coventry have been at it too.

[trousers]

10 minutes ago, MB said:

Can we have a sweepstake? Y or N on appeal. I actually think we will be reinstated. Call it gut feeling or whatever, but can see another twist and turn yet. 

 

N