Saints Expelled from Playoffs

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Doctoroncall said:

If Boro go up, will Hull go after them for damages?

They believe initially they have a legal case to be automatically promoted, but they're going to play the final to get there fair and square. That's what their own has said when working with their lawyers.

If they don't win - expect absolute carnage from Hull, lawsuits directed at the EFL in the first instance I'd say. None of this is fair on Hull, they've had an amazing achievement to get where they are. They don't deserve any of this mess which we have created, but the EFL has amplified. 

I'm almost certainly a Hull fan on Saturday if there is any justice.

Edited 1 hour ago by S-Clarke

[tdmickey3]

2 hours ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Yep, he came across as a massive prick throughout. 

Shit manager, 2nd nailed on to 5th and they worship him.

Absolute that's both him and the fans, they deserve each other 

[Harry_SFC]

Does anyone genuinely believe the players had no idea about all this? 

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Does anyone genuinely believe the players had no idea about all this? 

Yes

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

Does anyone genuinely believe the players had no idea about all this? 

Not to the blatant level, no. I think it's been really poor form from us. This is seemingly an fully orchestrated and organised systemic spying campaign to try to gain advantage over the course of a season, however minuscule the benefit would actually be.

Sure, there may be the odd occasion where you spot something or have a bit of info that you share, and players always do have tit bits they hear, and x or y share things here and there -  but reading through everything it's the systemic and seemingly purposely orchestrated approach which has caught everyone a bit by surprise I think.

Edited 59 minutes ago by S-Clarke

[Winnersaint]

39 minutes ago, Number9 said:

Another player not committing his future to Saints.

I think he’d have been off anyway back to the north west. Read something to that effect in the Jan window.

[Andy Hill]

The EFL have over reacted completely. We need to pursue this if we can. 
Anyone can spy on anyone in the Premier League without even a warning.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

So reading the general consensus, the Saintsweb brains trust seem to have concluded you don’t gain an advantage by spying, and everyone does it. Kind of contradicts each other I’d have thought. Of course everyone could be involved in an activity that doesn’t benefit them 🤣🤣
 

Also “Gibbo” used us this as a cunning back up plan in case they missed out on promotion. This does rather beg the question, if everyone’s at it, why didn’t he “stitch up Ipswich & Coventry to go up automatically. 
 

I just hope the full report is issued soon, so we can put to bed most of the pony on here.
 

 We cheated and got caught, I’ve no doubt we tried to do it in entry single game, and had we not been caught, would have tried to do it in the second leg, and the final against Hull. 
 

The whinging on here is worse than the Boro site was. 

You need to pay more attention. 

Clearly they stitched us up as they had inside info from "the whistleblower" that worked for us recently, it was a very simple plot to implement and we were stupid enough to allow them to do it. 

[bpsaint]

45 minutes ago, Number9 said:

Another player not committing his future to Saints.

Another player not backing the manager too .

[do i not like fizzy pop]

Fuxaches. Just at my lads U17 game and it's going on here

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, bpsaint said:

Another player not backing the manager too .

Can anyone blame him? Waxed lyrical about him live on BBC1 and taken in like the rest of us. 

[bpsaint]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Can anyone blame him? Waxed lyrical about him live on BBC1 and taken in like the rest of us. 

Oh absolutely, further proof of why Tonda has to go. Nobody will want to play for the bloke.

[Gloucester Saint]

4 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

Oh absolutely, further proof of why Tonda has to go. Nobody will want to play for the bloke.

I’d feel massively betrayed if I was him. 

[sotonjoe]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

Pretty damning line for Saints on the compliance/admin front in the newest Guardian article:

Eckert, who is battling to hold on to his job amid a Football Association investigation into the conduct of individuals at the club, has argued he did not realise what he did was against the EFL’s statutes.

Southampton gave a detailed briefing in pre-season to Eckert’s predecessor, Will Still, explaining the competition’s rules. They did not do the same for Eckert after he replaced Still in early November.

--

How is a club secretary/compliance manager/other admin staff member not taking a rookie manager through the requirements of his role and the requirements of the competitions he will be leading the team in? 

True but again there would have been plenty of chances for people around Tonda to whistleblow once they were aware he was apparently  ignorant of the rule and was repeatedly asking people to break it.

[trousers]

[Crab Lungs]

 

Now I’ve had a few hours to fully let the dust settle on this mess, I wanted to post a few observations. 

Purely my opinion and some speculation on my part. 

Firstly, I’ve cycled through some pretty dramatic emotions these past 48 hours. From being stunned at the IDC decision to embarrassment and anger in our own conduct.

Finally, came defiance; fuck everything, let’s own this mess, create a siege mentality and focus on next season.

The shock came first; from the rumoured rumblings of a record fine and points deduction to complete expulsion was a shock. I thought it was a parody account at first on X, only realising it was the actual EFL communications account once I clicked on it.

Over a period of time, you start to see the nuances of the case. The evidence gathered (the snooping appears both systemic and calculated) and in this instance it was an extraordinary situation. We were no longer in the league stage; we were effectively in a cup knockout competition when we were caught. 

My guess for how the punishment was metered out is as follows;

 

Spying vs Middlesbrough (knockout round) = expulsion 

Spying vs Oxford (league) = -3 points

Spying vs Ipswich (league = -3 points  

Admittance of the league spying = reversal of 1 point deduction for each game.

Total: expulsion = -4 points next year.

 

It’s just a guess but I’m assuming that’s how it’s worked. Admitting it somewhat mitigated the points deduction applied but that is where the goodwill ended.

Then came the embarrassment and anger. How fucking stupid could we be on the eve of a playoff game and in the analytical age of football? As a lot of former pros have said, the merits of spying and learning anything of any real significance is almost negligible - so why the risk?

It’s almost as if we got emboldened the more we done it, perhaps. And is it just us? The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if the size of our punishment is a signal to the rest of the EFL that they KNOW it goes on and making an example of someone would act as a huge deterrent for any clubs participating in the practice going forward.

For me I can only surmise that it wasn’t just about us; this was a message to everyone. We just happened to be the silly fuckers who took a gamble too far.

Cosplaying as Eastleigh ground staff? Sending WhatsApp and emails between each other seemingly joking about the clandestine activities? If Tonda was a part of these communications, I have one piece of advice for him going forward.

“People are your friends… until they decide not to be.”

Then came the anger, mostly about our leaderships handling of the affair, though that is snugly intertwined with whole stupidity of doing it in the first place. 

Parsons at Boro, for example. If reports are true and he cosied up to Steve Gibson, admitted everything and performatively cucked to him, thinking they’d  be accepting of a fine and points deduction is naive at best and at worst premature and amateur.

Whilst Boro were hiring a top sports KC in Nick de Marco, Parsons was effectively blabbing before his own solicitor had arrived. Dumb, and dumb some more. Better still, he did so right in front of some of EFL top brass. 

Then it came to hiring our own defence: instead of going for the big dog with experience in sports litigation right off the bat - Lord Pannick, typically we did the Saintsy thing of hiring someone with an expertise in gender discrimination.

I’m sure she’s very talented but after the initial ruling was given and thanks to Parsons blabbing his mouth, Pannick really didn’t have any cards left to play.

Which nicely brings me on to the pathetic, mealy mouthed statements from Parsons and the club.

Honestly, I’m still aghast at that an adult or adults supposedly composed them. There was the expected but seemingly empty apology from the club but the other content was staggering.

Offering to assist in the future in stamping out cheating on the future? Was that some sort of joke? 

The worst part of it all for me was the absolute drivel about proportionality. Fine, make your case for proportionality but do it with dignity and humility. Nope, not us. Instead, we start pointing our sullied fingers at other clubs like a child would:  ‘Look,they did it!’ ‘They did it too’ ‘And then! They did it too and it was worse than what we’ve done!’

It was a golden opportunity to communicate to the fans and show some accountability. Perhaps, just perhaps even own the mistakes.

Somehow, the club fumbled it again. 

Instead, they just doubled down on the ‘oh well, they did it too so you shouldn’t punish us as much’ rhetoric. 

As a grown adult, this was a feeble excuse when a more serious and dignified one was required. Using other clubs for their misdemeanours of the past as the defence to excuse our own behaviour is top level amateurism, not to mention pathetic.

Genuinely, woefully pathetic.

From the off, our handling of it was catastrophic. I can’t help but think our approach is what ultimately cost us. For example, if we’d been a little more brash, open and dismissive about it from the off then perhaps the kickback wouldn’t have been as bad. Bielsa famously pointed out it was a common practice and cited cultural negligence. Sure, he had the aura and charisma to pull it off but in those early stages our outwardly appearance was one of stern looks, guilt and performative professionalism (in other words, let’s pretend to everyone we weren’t aware of this and that we’re conducting an internal review, that’ll show them how serious we are).

It looked shifty from the offset and with Boro and the local rags fanning the flames, we then had Parsons enter the fray and capitulate completely, arrogantly presuming he could predict the outcome.

I can’t help but think there is alot more to come from this. Once the findings are released, I think we’ll all cycle through those emotions again. The embarrassment of more ridiculous evidential findings. The anger that we could be so aloof to think no one would rat on us or talk our way out of it with a few quiet words and an apology at the Riverside.

And I can’t help but think there’s something very fishy about the whole episode as well. Something conspiratorial. Something pre meditated. Irrespective, it’ll all come out in the wash.

This has served so many purposes, most notably an opportunity for the EFL to go nuclear on someone (us) and put an end to sporting advantage of spying on the opposition once and for all.

We just happened to be the suckers who went a step too far - and now we’re all paying for it.

But more importantly this could be a divine opportunity to reset the culture at the club once and for all. No more performative gestures and flaky promises from empty vessels like Parsons. 

We have an opportunity to bring real leaders in who set standards and demand that they are met. A real leader sets the tone and culture, holding themselves or others accountable when those standards are not met. 

We’ve all drawn a short straw through the actions of others, Saints fans. That hurts, a lot. Like the players, we’ve been wronged in a farcical situation that we did not create. 

We’ve gone on to achieve generational notoriety in what should have been an exceptional and memorable season. Instead, for years to come we will be thought of as cheaters. That is not us but actions of a few individuals. 

We deserved better. 

That said, we do have a choice: we can blubber, cry, procrastinate and moan about it or take the punishment and come back stronger. Use this situation as the fuel thar fires us into being better, doing better and getting back to where we belong - in the Premier League, selling our duds to Leicester.

Have a good summer everyone.

 

 

[AlexLaw76]

To make it easier, just lie to yourself that we got beat in the playoffs and head into a 44 game season. 

Do not - repeat - do not think about that the notion that Sports Republic will likely need to scout for another DoF and Manager. 

 

Edited 19 minutes ago by AlexLaw76

[Crab Lungs]

A few typos, apologies - was typing this all out on my phone whilst sitting on my smoking step! 

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

1 hour ago, Window Cleaner said:

However the FA will be on our case,

They will want to quash this mess as soon as possible. It's up to us to prove we've been cheated out of a chance to premier league football next year. 

We're not the cheats here. Having a drink with mates in London today, to a person they all said we have been stitched up. We can lie down and take it and put it down to experience, like we did to get expelled from the play offs, or we can seek recompense. I know what I want the SFC hierarchy to do.

[MB]

Tonda etc all need to be sacked but what has cost us here is our shambolic legal defence. Yep we got the big dog in last night but it’s very hard to overturn an appeal unless new evidence is presented, damage was done when the case was heard initially and that’s down to Parsons

A better legal defence to begin with and I am absolutely sure it would never have come to this. 

Shit show from top to bottom.

[trousers]

I'm sensing you're not overly impressed @Crab Lungs? 😉

[trousers]

1 minute ago, MB said:

Tonda etc all need to be sacked but what has cost us here is our shambolic legal defence. Yep we got the big dog in last night but it’s very hard to overturn an appeal unless new evidence is presented, damage was done when the case was heard initially and that’s down to Parsons

A better legal defence to begin with and I am absolutely sure it would never have come to this. 

Shit show from top to bottom.

Yup

[Window Cleaner]

3 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

They will want to quash this mess as soon as possible. It's up to us to prove we've been cheated out of a chance to premier league football next year. 

We're not the cheats here. Having a drink with mates in London today, to a person they all said we have been stitched up. We can lie down and take it and put it down to experience, like we did to get expelled from the play offs, or we can seek recompense. I know what I want the SFC hierarchy to do.

There is no route for further action on our part. Rule 104.

And the FA will be all over this. 

 

 

[Harry_SFC]

Parsons just as much to blame as the rest tbh

[CSA96]

EFL publish full written reasons: https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/21/efl-statement--written-reasons-relating-to-southampton-fc/

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Window Cleaner said:

However the FA will be on our case, bringing the game into disrepute probably. Might even get some League 1 away days .

Why would the FA penalise us when they didn't penalise Bielsa / Leeds? As far as I'm aware, they don't have a new rule to play with, like the EFL did, ergo they should treat us the same? Also bearing in mind that Bielsa / Leeds had many more spying occasions to their name than we have (so far)...

[sotonjoe]

11 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

A few typos, apologies - was typing this all out on my phone whilst sitting on my smoking step! 

Did you not burn your arse?

[Crab Lungs]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

I'm sensing you're not overly impressed @Crab Lungs? 😉

Having been a leader, I find our scrabbling around trying to find excuses, deflect using other clubs misdemeanours and pressurising interns (being young once myself, wouldn’t have had the cojones to say ‘no’) totally deplorable.

I think the EFLs handling of the matter disgraceful and unprofessional and Boro’s conduct repugnant and abhorrent.

But… it’s a situation of our making and we need to fucking own it.

And Solak needs to stop continuing to surround himself with charlatans and grifters or he’s going to end up as penniless as me. 

[trousers]

[Crab Lungs]

1 minute ago, sotonjoe said:

Did you not burn your arse?

Not on this occasion.

[trousers]

[trousers]

[AlexLaw76]

4 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

EFL publish full written reasons: https://www.efl.com/news/2026/may/21/efl-statement--written-reasons-relating-to-southampton-fc/

Fuck me, we spent 2 days spying on Oxford, including Xmas eve!!!

 

[Crab Lungs]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

Fuck me, we spent 2 days spying on Oxford, including Xmas eve!!!

 

 

it sounds like we actually just offered this up to them, FOC.

’oh by the way, we spied on these guys too - but look - 1 point from 6!’

[Harry_SFC]

Fuck me our defence was absolutely pathetic 

[sfc4prem]

'Particularly deplorable'?

Fucking hell, Tonda wasn't exactly forcing children to work in factories unpaid and using dangerous machinery, was he?

Strange choice of words right there, EFL. Nothing quite like the self-important morality of a bunch of suits sat behind a desk in a bureaucratic headquarters of an organisation.