The Spygate Saga

[manji]

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

We have enough fake rivalries with Bompey, Brighton etc, don't need one with some nothingy bunch of chokers way up there.

 

2 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

We have enough fake rivalries with Bompey, Brighton etc, don't need one with some nothingy bunch of chokers way up there.

What was the one Forest tries to ramp up when we got back to the PL ? 

[Turkish]

10 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

We have enough fake rivalries with Bompey, Brighton etc, don't need one with some nothingy bunch of chokers way up there.

They aren’t rivalries. We don’t really have any rivals which stems back to the days when the DEF were in their pomp. No one wanted to be our rivals as they knew disastrous consequences awaited them. Pompey made up a load of stories for their books but everyone knows the truth about that so called rivalry. We are the most feared fan base in Europe always have been always will be

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

So just logged into my Skybet account for the first time since our game, and I'd put a few big bets on Boro towards the end of the game as an insurance bet. 

Turns out they paid out on it!

Every cloud and all that.

Was the bet 'to qualify'? I also did that but the bet was settled on the night as having lost. Seems I need to get back onto Bet365 then.

[swedish dave]

5 hours ago, East Kent Saint said:

Administration of the Prem and EFL is hopeless , their job is difficult against foreign ownership of clubs with multibillion resources.  The rules are back of a fag packet style . Clubs are well aware of spying and don't care so a total rewrite of rules is needed to prevent any more self I tested spy accusations. 

reading between the lines of the EFL "rule"., there is much emphasis on the " 72 hour period " but little else

aside from " the encouragement to fair play and an honest attitude". The assumption being that the same 

"spying " activity taking place 73 hours (or more) before game time is not considered an offence of any sort. 

Hypocrisy of the worst kind, and not worthy of any type of sport. 

The only justice that has come out of the whole mess is that having failed to win any of the 3 games involved

Boro ' did not benefit from their exploitation of the entire case via social media with their crocodile tears. 

[Lard]

Close this thread now. 
we cheated. Got caught. Got sanctions. 
lets move forward….into another abyss of humiliation and failure. 
I for one,can’t wait. 
it’s done. It’s dusted. 
we are an utter shambles. 
but we go together. 

[Mboto Gorge]

16 minutes ago, Lard said:

Close this thread now. 
we cheated. Got caught. Got sanctions. 
lets move forward….into another abyss of humiliation and failure. 
I for one,can’t wait. 
it’s done. It’s dusted. 
we are an utter shambles. 
but we go together. 

We limp on

[Holmes_and_Watson]

17 minutes ago, Lard said:

Close this thread now. 
we cheated. Got caught. Got sanctions. 
lets move forward….into another abyss of humiliation and failure. 
I for one,can’t wait. 
it’s done. It’s dusted. 
we are an utter shambles. 
but we go together. 

Unbeaten in ages (ta @Turkish)

Most in form team in the league

Strong squad. Lots of minutes spread around, depth and a structure to the shape.

Continuing to clear out surplus players.

One our most successful win rate managers in charge.

A committed owner, who has invested despite some setbacks.

Raring to go for 26/27!

 

[stknowle]

12 hours ago, leesaint88 said:

Not as many as people think. Portsmouth, Millwall and Hull are the ones I can think of. You can get a partial view of Wrexham from the hillside behind, but you’ll be certain testing the levels of performance on an iPhone for that one…

You seem quite clued up on this. Fancy a job next season……….?

[Dark Munster]

2 hours ago, swedish dave said:

reading between the lines of the EFL "rule"., there is much emphasis on the " 72 hour period " but little else

aside from " the encouragement to fair play and an honest attitude". The assumption being that the same 

"spying " activity taking place 73 hours (or more) before game time is not considered an offence of any sort. 

Hypocrisy of the worst kind, and not worthy of any type of sport. 

The only justice that has come out of the whole mess is that having failed to win any of the 3 games involved

Boro ' did not benefit from their exploitation of the entire case via social media with their crocodile tears. 

This is an important point. If the EFL try to bring up further charges of spying done by us last season, they need to prove it was done within the 72 hour window. Good luck with that. Unless Parsons/Saints are stupid enough to admit to it.

Oh, wait.

[Patrick Bateman]

4 hours ago, EssEffCee said:

Seems there's more people there saying they're not bothered than here.

I don't consider it a rivalry at all, really odd to do so imo.

Agreed, not a rivalry at all. Banter at the match, yes, but not a rivalry, I don't hate them, that's just silly. 

[Farmer Saint]

3 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Was the bet 'to qualify'? I also did that but the bet was settled on the night as having lost. Seems I need to get back onto Bet365 then.

It was "winner of tie".

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Lard said:

Close this thread now. 
we cheated. Got caught. Got sanctions. 
lets move forward….into another abyss of humiliation and failure. 
I for one,can’t wait. 
it’s done. It’s dusted. 
we are an utter shambles. 
but we go together. 

The whole thing was a shambles. We don't emerge with much credit but nor did we deserve such a stringent penalty. I'm not Karen Brady's biggest fan but her article in the Sun is worth a read for a measured reaction from a neutral with no skin in the game. The EFL took a sledgehammer to crack a nut. They played to the gallery and we were their christian to throw to the lions.

[MB]

Karren Brady’s article is bang on in fairness. Makes you realise the importance of balance and impartiality on the EFL board and subsequent disciplinary hearing which we did not have. Different faces and a probably a different outcome. 

[westmidlandsaint]

40 minutes ago, MB said:

Karren Brady’s article is bang on in fairness. Makes you realise the importance of balance and impartiality on the EFL board and subsequent disciplinary hearing which we did not have. Different faces and a probably a different outcome. 

Just read this. Never thought I'd agree so much with Lady Brady a balanced fair article 

[chownie20]

Id like to think Gibbo is still furiously trying to find something on Hull, any possible loophole to justify a shit football team getting a fourth chance at being promoted beyond their capability before their other competent players follow Azaz out of the door.

Perhaps he'll stretch to putting up a fence and hiring a manager who isn't better placed for a Kleenex advert too.

 

Pair of cu***

[SouSaint]

Not out of the woods apparently. 🥴

[SaintsLoyal]

Umm 

 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

6 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Umm 

 

 

😂

Another reason to change the logo back to the city one to help reset. The tree will be a permanent reminder. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

46 minutes ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Umm 

 

 

I quite like the way the tree supports the football, like Yggdrasill supporting a little footballing world. 🙂

The coffee is a lovely data trail touch, too.

 

[West Dean FC Legend]

Just popped on the Ugly Inside - I don't go very often because I'm not extreme-right-wing and angry - and somewhere is saying another EFL club has been accused of 'spying' this season? 

Anyone got any info' on this? If it is true - and with evidence - this is really going to stitch up the EFL, if they find out there is more than a couple alongside Saints what will they do?

[trousers]

11 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

Just popped on the Ugly Inside - I don't go very often because I'm not extreme-right-wing and angry - and somewhere is saying another EFL club has been accused of 'spying' this season? 

Anyone got any info' on this? If it is true - and with evidence - this is really going to stitch up the EFL, if they find out there is more than a couple alongside Saints what will they do?

Start everyone on minus 20 points...?

[Lord Duckhunter]

12 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

if they find out there is more than a couple alongside Saints what will they do?

Give them a points deduction. 

[SaintsLoyal]

24 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

Just popped on the Ugly Inside - I don't go very often because I'm not extreme-right-wing and angry - and somewhere is saying another EFL club has been accused of 'spying' this season? 

Anyone got any info' on this? If it is true - and with evidence - this is really going to stitch up the EFL, if they find out there is more than a couple alongside Saints what will they do?

Its allegedly one we spied on

[S-Clarke]

Just now, SaintsLoyal said:

Its allegedly one we spied on

Oh sweet justice if Boro were also caught to have been doing the same.

[Deanovski]

26 minutes ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

Just popped on the Ugly Inside - I don't go very often because I'm not extreme-right-wing and angry - and somewhere is saying another EFL club has been accused of 'spying' this season? 

Anyone got any info' on this? If it is true - and with evidence - this is really going to stitch up the EFL, if they find out there is more than a couple alongside Saints what will they do?

Ah, so youre a melt.

[SaintsLoyal]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

Oh sweet justice if Boro were also caught to have been doing the same.

I dont think its them, but one of the other two, known so far.... in brackets

[hypochondriac]

Why not just post who the rumour is supposed to be. If it was Ipswich then no one can do anything and similarly no one is going to care if it's Oxford.

[Pamplemousse]

Would be amusing if Boro did it under Rob Edwards tbh

[SaintsLoyal]

29 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Why not just post who the rumour is supposed to be. If it was Ipswich then no one can do anything and similarly no one is going to care if it's Oxford.

I dont know the answer

[Scummer]

39 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Why not just post who the rumour is supposed to be. If it was Ipswich then no one can do anything and similarly no one is going to care if it's Oxford.

I think it would be a pretty big deal if it was Ipswich. They only got automatics by one point, if I remember correctly from when Swansea were moaning about us taking Martin, they are still technically a championship club for another few weeks.

[Midfield_General]

On 15/05/2026 at 00:30, LeG said:

Will say more when it’s done and give context. I’d be moronic to do that now on a public forum. No order from the top though. 
 

 

Come on then @LeG. It's done - so it's time to say more and give context like you said you would. 

What can you tell us

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Pamplemousse]

It's not done yet, we still have an FA investigation

Edited 6 hours ago by Pamplemousse

[EssEffCee]

51 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Why not just post who the rumour is supposed to be. If it was Ipswich then no one can do anything and similarly no one is going to care if it's Oxford.

Ipswich would be hilarious given had it come to light earlier they'd have got a point deduction meaning Millwall would have gone up.

I suspect a lot of this is all wishful thinking though.

[Football Special]

15 hours ago, westmidlandsaint said:

Just read this. Never thought I'd agree so much with Lady Brady a balanced fair article 

Can you share the link? 

[Sheaf Saint]

17 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

It was "winner of tie".

MFs are digging their heels in and hiding behind their T&Cs. 

Quote

These bets will not be resettled in line with our Terms & Conditions. Specifically, 15.3, which states, "The result of a match or event will be determined on the day of its conclusion for betting purposes, subject to confirmation by the relevant sport's governing body. Any subsequent enquiry that may result in an overturned decision will not be recognised by bet365, and original settlement of Transactions will stand."

I'm not having that though. The condition refers specifically to "the result of a match", but that's not what I bet on (that's an entirely separate market for which different odds were being offered).

I bet on Boro "to qualify". It didn't specify the method of qualification, just "to qualify", which they did. 

Evidently there a number of posters on here with a good understanding of legal matters. Have I got a case or not?

 

[Lord Duckhunter]

3 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Evidently there a number of posters on here with a good understanding of legal matters. Have I got a case or not?

Gambling debts and bookmakers owing you money used to be debts of honour, so were unenforceable by law. I’m not sure if they still are, as it’s not  so shady nowadays. 

[westmidlandsaint]

49 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Can you share the link? 

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/39193644/southampton-playoff-final-ban-spying-championship-news/

[Dman]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Why not just post who the rumour is supposed to be. If it was Ipswich then no one can do anything and similarly no one is going to care if it's Oxford.

Weren’t Bristol City one of the rumoured clubs at the start of this? 

Bristol city who were managed by Struber, who Tonda knew from Salzburg and was assistant to at Barnsley….

Edited 5 hours ago by Dman

[Football Special]

4 hours ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Umm 

 

 

Tonda Ekhert's new tattoo? 

[Miltonaggro]

4 hours ago, SaintsLoyal said:

Umm 

 

 

Christ! What a Spartan to have that done on your John Thomas! 

[Football Special]

9 minutes ago, westmidlandsaint said:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/39193644/southampton-playoff-final-ban-spying-championship-news/

Thanks , she's certainly been around in football long enough to know this was blown well out of proportion and needs some perspective (unlike some of our own Karens who are outraged he hasn't been sacked already) 

[Dman]

14 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Thanks , she's certainly been around in football long enough to know this was blown well out of proportion and needs some perspective (unlike some of our own Karens who are outraged he hasn't been sacked already) 

Other than people associated to Boro, the jurnos ‘gibbo’ has in his pocket, Troy Deeney and James Corden… everyone seems to universally agree on that fact. 

You’d probably struggle to find a less credible group of people if you tried. 

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

1 hour ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Gambling debts and bookmakers owing you money used to be debts of honour, so were unenforceable by law. I’m not sure if they still are, as it’s not  so shady nowadays. 

You used to have to go to the Jockey Club and have them 'warned off'

Edited 4 hours ago by Sergei Gotsmanov

[Weston Saint]

SAINTS duo Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their summer friendlies.

Manning and Azaz were due to link up with Heimir Hallgrimsson's side to face World Cup-qualified sides Qatar and Canada.

However, Southampton's Irish players will no longer feature in those games, with the FAI stating they were "forced to withdraw".

Southampton duo withdrawn from Ireland squad for friendlies | Daily Echo

[hypochondriac]

Just now, Weston Saint said:

SAINTS duo Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their summer friendlies.

Manning and Azaz were due to link up with Heimir Hallgrimsson's side to face World Cup-qualified sides Qatar and Canada.

However, Southampton's Irish players will no longer feature in those games, with the FAI stating they were "forced to withdraw".

Southampton duo withdrawn from Ireland squad for friendlies | Daily Echo

What's that about ?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Tonda Ekhert's new tattoo? 

No. Tonda's got the one with himself on the other side of the tree, prodding the other guy with a stick to take more photos. 🙂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Miltonaggro said:

Christ! What a Spartan to have that done on your John Thomas! 

Wait till you hear how much that photo has been magnified. You'll be complimenting the intricacy of the work. 🙂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

8 minutes ago, Weston Saint said:

SAINTS duo Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their summer friendlies.

Manning and Azaz were due to link up with Heimir Hallgrimsson's side to face World Cup-qualified sides Qatar and Canada.

However, Southampton's Irish players will no longer feature in those games, with the FAI stating they were "forced to withdraw".

Southampton duo withdrawn from Ireland squad for friendlies | Daily Echo

Hull aren't going to happy they we're back in training for a new final. 🙂

Anything from having to give statements to the FA; have internal meetings on who knew what and when; consulting with their own lawyers about their bonuses and contracts - possibly as a squad; having internal discussions about the club going forward and their trust in Tonda; having not had a proper break with all this going on before the internationals.

But mostly likely just realising that friendlies are a bit rubbish.

 

[die Mannyschaft]

14 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

What's that about ?

PR, Teams image? Or have they done some world cup spying in past

[M271]

34 minutes ago, Weston Saint said:

SAINTS duo Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz have withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of their summer friendlies.

Manning and Azaz were due to link up with Heimir Hallgrimsson's side to face World Cup-qualified sides Qatar and Canada.

However, Southampton's Irish players will no longer feature in those games, with the FAI stating they were "forced to withdraw".

Southampton duo withdrawn from Ireland squad for friendlies | Daily Echo

I will be concerned if Stewart and Latin are withdrawn or delayed from meeting up with  their countries squads.

Mind you I assume that the other players are away on their hols now anyway?

Edited 3 hours ago by M271