Sports Republics response to “Spygate”

[SteveGc]

On 24/05/2026 at 14:50, Toussaint said:

Bedwetters, really, that’s the best you have, insult nearly everyone here because you somehow think they have it handled, based on… ?  The layers that have guided them, was it legal aid lawyers or first year law students? 

Not intended have removed  the comment and apologies,  was having a crappy day being sick lol 

Edited 21 hours ago by SteveGc

[CamberwellSaint]

On 23/05/2026 at 21:00, SaintlyAnd said:

I’ve spent a lot of this week feeling so angry and down about what happened. With people in our club and in particular SR. 

For my own sanity I tried formulating my thoughts on the last few years and how its built up to this. Appreciate its a long read, but was cathartic for me to gather together frustrations.

https://saintsstuff.substack.com/p/too-smart-to-do-the-basics-a-view
 

This is brilliantly written, thank you. 

The point about the Premier League [through what route?] having warned Russell that his approach would have to change is shocking [insofar as the club was blandly willing to let him continue without either a back-up tactical plan  or 5 new high quality players].  The fact that the Board didn't think it necessary to replace Jason Wilcox speaks volumes.

I disagree that Tonda has to go, but the quality of decision making certainly has to improve dramatically, and those hiring need to get much better at Bullshit Bingo.

[Toussaint]

7 hours ago, SteveGc said:

Not intended have removed  the comment and apologies,  was having a crappy day being sick lol 

Don’t worry about it, emotions are charged. 

[chiknsmack]

3 hours ago, CamberwellSaint said:

The point about the Premier League [through what route?] having warned Russell that his approach would have to change is shocking

It's not true. The article linked to says that "Southampton's board agreed on certain aspects of the side that needed to improve as they returned to the Premier League, with their displays defensively one key area that was addressed."

[kitch]

On 23/05/2026 at 21:00, SaintlyAnd said:

I’ve spent a lot of this week feeling so angry and down about what happened. With people in our club and in particular SR. 

For my own sanity I tried formulating my thoughts on the last few years and how its built up to this. Appreciate its a long read, but was cathartic for me to gather together frustrations.

https://saintsstuff.substack.com/p/too-smart-to-do-the-basics-a-view
 

Great read, that.

[manji]

On 24/05/2026 at 09:58, S-Clarke said:

That is an amazing read, really enjoyed it. Thank you for posting it, you've nailed every point.

It should be published and circulated around the media! I still feel SR get off lightly with all of this.

It’s an appalling rant. All over the place looking for scapegoats. No mention of Katrina rejoining the board, nothing about Dragans major court cases he has won. The complete lack of perspective and the omission of at least four potentially major developments says it all. A crap snowflake whinge fluffed up by crap AI. Get back in your box. 

 

 

 

 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Expecting this day to be the same as yesterday 

Tumbleweed

The Sport Republic Way

[AlexLaw76]

5 hours ago, manji said:

It’s an appalling rant. All over the place looking for scapegoats. No mention of Katrina rejoining the board, nothing about Dragans major court cases he has won. The complete lack of perspective and the omission of at least four potentially major developments says it all. A crap snowflake whinge fluffed up by crap AI. Get back in your box. 

 

 

 

 

I know you are a sports republic sycophant, but come on

[Sheaf Saint]

13 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I know you are a sports republic sycophant, but come on

"Greatest era in our history" 

[S-Clarke]

6 hours ago, manji said:

It’s an appalling rant. All over the place looking for scapegoats. No mention of Katrina rejoining the board, nothing about Dragans major court cases he has won. The complete lack of perspective and the omission of at least four potentially major developments says it all. A crap snowflake whinge fluffed up by crap AI. Get back in your box. 

 

 

 

 

You're losing your head Manji.

[Sheaf Saint]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

You're losing your head Manji.

All day drinking on a sweltering hot bank holiday is never a good idea.

[Osvaldorama]

6 hours ago, manji said:

It’s an appalling rant. All over the place looking for scapegoats. No mention of Katrina rejoining the board, nothing about Dragans major court cases he has won. The complete lack of perspective and the omission of at least four potentially major developments says it all. A crap snowflake whinge fluffed up by crap AI. Get back in your box. 

 

 

 

 

Which part do you disagree with?

 

I agree with almost every word 

[manji]

46 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

You're losing your head Manji.

It’s the heat.

[leesaint88]

It's been a bit of a PR nightmare from the club, but let's hope lessons are learnt....

* Use a proper PR company

* Use proper lawyers from the start

* Give a new manager a proper induction as to the laws of the English game..

[S-Clarke]

4 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

It's been a bit of a PR nightmare from the club, but let's hope lessons are learnt....

* Use a proper PR company

* Use proper lawyers from the start

* Give a new manager a proper induction as to the laws of the English game..

Lessons are never learnt by SR, hence the absolute deafening silence for the last week.

The same PR disaster is ensuing in front of our eyes.

Edited 2 hours ago by S-Clarke

[manji]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

All day drinking on a sweltering hot bank holiday is never a good idea.

Thankfully an unknown benefactor has offered me a villa on the Black Sea coast. Sozopol , Bulgaria all expenses paid. Much cooler there. Wonder who that is ? 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by manji

[Whitey Grandad]

50 minutes ago, manji said:

Thankfully an unknown benefactor has offered me a villa on the Black Sea coast. Sozopol , Bulgaria all expenses paid. Much cooler there. Wonder who that is ? 

 

Best not to ask.

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, leesaint88 said:

It's been a bit of a PR nightmare from the club, but let's hope lessons are learnt....

* Use a proper PR company

* Use proper lawyers from the start

* Give a new manager a proper induction as to the laws of the English game..

You are spot on on all three.

But the fact that those utterly fundamental basics are things that our incredibly highly-paid Executive Board 'need to learn' says all you need to know about why we are in this situation.

These are all things I'd expect any half-decent Business graduate to be able to identify straight of college. The fact that no-one on our Board considered these basic measures until it was way too late and the irreversible damage had been done says everything.

Putting aside the actual cheating and focusing on how the fall-out was handled, the people running the club simply don't have the skills, knowledge, experience or expertise to do it competently. Whatever fancy job titles they love to give themselves, they're just not qualified.

Dragan, Parsons, Sibley - they literally don't know what they're doing. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

On 23/05/2026 at 21:00, SaintlyAnd said:

I’ve spent a lot of this week feeling so angry and down about what happened. With people in our club and in particular SR. 

For my own sanity I tried formulating my thoughts on the last few years and how its built up to this. Appreciate its a long read, but was cathartic for me to gather together frustrations.

https://saintsstuff.substack.com/p/too-smart-to-do-the-basics-a-view
 

I’m mostly giving the football a swerve at the mo so only just read this. That’s a very good summary imo.

I’ve said before that it feels like we’ve been used as a bit of an experiment whilst they try to reinvent football but constantly fail. I know he’s the chairman and the buck ultimately stops with him but I believe Dragan Solak is mostly guilty of putting too much trust in the laps of chancers, he stepped up and took action after the Will Steel debacle and it finally looked to be working but those chancers have now fucked up all the good stuff.

What a shitshow.

[cambsaint]

Sometimes a period of quiet reflection is called for rather than making hasty knee jerk reactions.

Also in the case of Spygate I think that it would be best to remember the words of Jesus-

"Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."

Perspective has been lost in a media frenzy (possibly encouraged by certain PR  advisers but I have no proof of this )

[Dirkdiggler]

Makes you wonder how we have got to this point from being the shining glory of running a club from 8 years ago?

We were the blueprint then of how a smaller club should be run which was copied to a degree by other clubs, Bournemouth and Brighton spring to mind? Look at how those 2 have progressed in the same time. Southampton have gone backwards. 

[Miltonaggro]

2 hours ago, manji said:

Thankfully an unknown benefactor has offered me a villa on the Black Sea coast. Sozopol , Bulgaria all expenses paid. Much cooler there. Wonder who that is ? 

 

Louis Spence?

[Midfield_General]

So when do we think we'll hear something, and what do we think it will be?

Let's start the betting...

I'm going for 4pm this Friday, with a two-line statement that says that they are currently working with the FA on an investigation and cannot comment further at this time.

Followed by two more weeks of radio silence, continuing an information vacuum that gets filled with more wild speculation and rumour. 

[Midfield_General]

1 hour ago, Dirkdiggler said:

Makes you wonder how we have got to this point from being the shining glory of running a club from 8 years ago?

We were the blueprint then of how a smaller club should be run which was copied to a degree by other clubs, Bournemouth and Brighton spring to mind? Look at how those 2 have progressed in the same time. Southampton have gone backwards. 

Don't forget Brentford

And Palace 

And Fulham

All similar sized clubs to ours, all now disappearing over the horizon with consistently solid Prem finishes / European challenges / proper silverware.