19 May 2026 19:22:37
Sickening - I feel physically sick.
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19 May 2026 19:57:56
And our chances of having it overturned on appeal are basically zero.
19 May 2026 20:04:21
Disgusted with my club. No complaints with the sanctions. We knew what we were doing was wrong and did it multiple times. Idiots. That 20 game unbeaten run, the extra time winner, probably the run to the cup semis, all lies.
We wouldn't have only spied on 2nd, 3rd and 22nd. Unless they happened to be the easiest targets. This surely runs deeper. Tonda will go, most of the board will go, most of the squad will go.
This is one of the worst days in the history of the club and I don't see how we come back from this. We blatantly cheated. For months. We probably really were a team bound for successive relegations.
But the real worst part. We admitted to spying for three games. Games we lost, drew, and drew. If it is just those three occasions, WHAT WAS EVEN THE POINT OF ANY OF IT.
So deeply upsetting. All that hope and expectation built on cheating. I could cope if we were relegated. If we were just not a good football side. I cannot abide by my team cheating.
Unless heads roll, this club may slowly start to die.
19 May 2026 20:08:35
And nor should we. We've been cheating for last 6 months at least. I'm 44 and life long Saint, first game in '89 and this.this is by far the worst I've felt. Disgraceful, embarrassing and shameful. We've been a lot of things but never cheats. Like u say its sickening and heads must roll
19 May 2026 22:26:05
Let's not forget in all this, we have a team fully capable of winning promotion. This is not the case of cheating being the reason we are/were in the playoffs. Goalscorers all over the pitch, a magnificent goal keeper, defence.
We have played superb attacking and defensive football.
What I don't understand is why why we have allowed or used an internet, a young lad to stand filing an opponent. not some fancy equipment but an iPhone and in full view.
I still think the intern was renegade and out to impress, but we should have stopped it!
You can watch every single opponent on tv or streaming an iPhone video is hardly going to add to the knowledge!
Absolutely bizarre!
Using someone in secret with top recording equipment. that would be covert
A young lad with an iPhone in full view. costing the club 200M. now that doesn't make sense one bit.
Appeal time. This is going to run.
16 May 2026 16:29:43
The neutrals and the Borough fans (obviously) don't necessarily agree about the fact the spying has little impact on the overall performance, to the point where you'd almost think it was them to spied on us, that's how dominant they were.
They want justice for the implication, not the ramifications/benefits we did/didn't receive from it.
What I find interesting though is majority of them are calling for the full sanctions and extent of the law.
Yet the whole point of the spying was to get into the Premier League and what they're claiming we denied them, but funnily enough the Premier League/FA don't have any rules in replace regarding such things.
It was only recently that the EFL brought in the 72 hour no observation rule because of what happened with Biesal and Leeds.
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16 May 2026 10:47:04
With my customary Saturday morning glass half full head on, I thought I'd try and book a hospitality package for Saturday's play-off final as advertised on our official website.
Guess what, they're closed - only open Mon-Fri.
How ridiculous - one week before the greatest show on earth and they're all shopping in Sainsbury's.
Just adds to the general feeling of incompetence and embarrassment around St Mary's.
I've been besieged by calls/messages from friends across the country empathising for the situation we find ourselves in and wishing us luck. The consensus is that being booted out would be wholly disproportionate and totally unfair on the fans.
On that basis, I will crack on with plans for Saturday, that's if someone ever answers the phone lines.
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16 May 2026 10:00:28
For decades, managers/coaches have attended games so as to research their opposition, they have also, curtesy of the EFL, been able to watch hours of video to study their opponent. What's the difference between that, and a man standing behind a tree with a camera? Perhaps the EFL should tear up the broadcasting contract to avoid teams "spying" on their opponents ( with subsequent loss of revenue)
Seems to me a fine for stupidity would be apt, but banishment should make the EFL look to put rules in place against all types of research! If this is to be the case, I only have 2 words to say.
GO HULL
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16 May 2026 12:28:25
You're aloud to watch, observe, gather as much footage/Intel on the opposition as you want.
You're just not allowed to directly observe that other teams preparation for a schedule match involving you and them within 72 hours as that is the key match preparation time.
That's exactly what we did.
16 May 2026 16:14:14
There we go, we don't need an independent panel . Leslee knows we are guilty, and now we spied on Fulham. Probably been reading the Sunday sport.
Let's not let it get in the way that there is no proof in the public domain, other than a guy with a phone in a publicly accessible place.
It's also reported that he was not employed by Sfc at the time but that won't fit the narrative. Can't we await the facts before conclusively stating what we apparently have done.
16 May 2026 23:17:44
Those are facts, it's the facts we're being charged with, keep up SaintsGGG.
The 72 hour rule was brought in by EFL after what leeds were doing. Prior to that there was no official rule/law.
We broke that law.
Publicly accessible yes, not 'some guy' though. It was William Salt, the analyst at Southampton FC.
You're allowed to be a loyal Southampton fan whilst also accepting facts ggg.
If the whole thing was a one off, I agree it's all got a little out of proportion as there was no real advantage that I saw in the two legs, because of anything it slurred Middlesbourgh on.
However and the important part is wether it is indicative of the majority of our season under Tonda and just how much evidence they've unearthed between now and Tuesday to show wether this run which has blown all opposition out of the water is because we knew prior to each match how they were setting up against us.
We will see.
17 May 2026 00:17:54
Sorry you're right. Leslie says we spied on Fulham so we did.
Show me the proof William Salt was employed by saints? You can't - one news outlet claims he is employed by villa.
You need hard evidence he was on the instruction of sfc. I'm sure Leslee has this. We (including you) know very little about the hard facts
Fine and a suspended points deduction at most.
17 May 2026 13:16:42
Him wearing the Staff training kit and being in the Staff photo of the team when Tonda won manager of f the month.
Tonda center picture with HIS team behind him, William Salt is at the back row.
I know I know nothing about the hard facts, that's what the tribunal is for.
I'm going talking about the concrete facts, which for whatever reason your not accepting.
17 May 2026 16:16:12
It was an old photo from when he was employed by saints. If you keep up, that photo was from March, the alleged spying was May.
There can be no dispute he was at least once employed by sfc . But as I keep saying we don't know all the facts. Not enough to make clown comments like there is evidence we spied on Fulham.
17 May 2026 19:02:40
The thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is he was caught before the first leg. Did he send information to aid us in the first leg before he was caught Who knows, but we didn't have any help for the second leg and won. According to some journalist Middlesbourgh are the only club interested in pursuing this.
17 May 2026 19:46:05
You're right st Kenny.
I know it's not great but like with criminal law, certain things have to be proven. If he really was working for villa and there is no proof that footage was shared
Then there isn't a case to answer.
If he was working for Tonda, totally agree we should be punished. But also (fact) Tonda has said it's frustrating not being able to speak and defend ourselves, which he can't for legal reasons.
18 May 2026 06:00:36
The threshold in criminal law is different though - the evidence has to be 'beyond reasonable doubt'.
In civil cases and Hearings like this, the bar is lower and is based on probability - is it more likely than not that the 'mush in the bush' was spying for or on behalf of SFC.
Having thought on this over the weekend, it seems justice would be seen to be served if any official in the club is proven to be complicit. A substantial ban from being actively involved would probably fit the 'crime'.
To punish the whole club/community would IMO be grossly unfair.
Embarassing on every level, but hopefully objective and independent oversight by the Panel will mean we can have our day out on Saturday. We'll see.
18 May 2026 11:35:03
Agree Miller, my point is really regarding fair play, not trial by media. I just think the punishment should fit the crime.
Let's see what the hard facts are at the hearing, and what an independent panel view as a punishment once all said facts are considered.
Once all the facts are known we may well be in the rubbish . But likewise it could be viewed differently
It certainly doesn't undo the good work Tonda has done as some may suggest.
18 May 2026 13:38:13
It DOES if he's the tribunal evidence shows he's cheated, how do you not understand that lol ?
I want him to be clean as much as you do, but this 'good work' isn't good work if it's shady tactics work, is it.
Go have this conversation with neutrals Saintggg as you seem to think I dislike Tonda.
It's about perspective.
Like I say this is why for me it is even more important to judge him on his ability next season. Like it or not, no matter what comes out of the caught hearing (both/all sides will be be looking to play down/play up what happened) so we may never know the true extent.
What will give us some insight into whether what happened at Middlesbourgh was indicative of Tondas success is whether that form can continue next season, because one things for sure, every team we play will be guarding their training plans.
Next season is looking more and more interesting to me.
18 May 2026 14:46:24
What? You are unhinged.
This is my point - if . IF we are found to be guilty. Still sounds like lots of ifs for me.
18 May 2026 15:34:53
The thing is Lesleee, if we do get promoted the two seasons are not comparable.
I think you would be wise to let this go for the moment because there are much more important issues to worry about.
18 May 2026 18:50:14
Not really Miller, we can take some comparison from our form in the FA cup, superior team this time round and by all your own words, a superior manager to what we had in RM.
I'm not saying we should blow the Premier League per in any sense, but relegation survival, comfortably i.e. mid bottom half table would compare to what Tonda has been doing here in the championship. anything less i.e. relegation threatening and we can assume my points about Will Still/spying has merit.alas e won't have to worry as you will all be calling for his head anyway at that point ?
18 May 2026 19:45:40
I have no words
