It’s official: Spying Southampton face being THROWN OUT of play-offs as EFL confirm £200m Wembley final may have to move date with hearing set for just four days before
The EFL has admitted the Championship play-off final may have to be postponed depending on the outcome of the ‘Spygate’ hearing, in which Southampton were accused of recording Middlesbrough’s training.
A Southampton first-team analyst allegedly filmed Boro training from behind a tree ahead of Saturday’s goalless play-off semi-final first leg, Daily Mail Sport revealed last Thursday.
On Friday night the EFL accused the South Coast club of breaching its rules.
Saints won the second leg 2-1 to set up a Wembley date against Hull City, but this is now in doubt and the date of the final and the identity of Hull’s opponents remain uncertain.
Boro are pushing for Southampton’s expulsion and an independent commission will decide on punishment next week, throwing the final date and the identity of Hull’s opponents into doubt.
A statement from the EFL reads: ‘The EFL can today provide an interim update on the ongoing disciplinary proceedings involving Southampton following Tuesday’s Championship Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg.
The Championship play-off final could be postponed depending on the outcome of the ‘Spygate’ scandal (alleged Southampton analyst accused of spying pictured)
William Salt, circled and photographed with manager Tonda Eckert to celebrate February’s Manager of the Month award, has been identified as the person involved in the incident. He is an intern at the club
‘The Independent Disciplinary Commission hearing will take place on or before Tuesday, May 19. The exact date is still being discussed and is expected to be confirmed shortly.
‘The Commission will announce its decision as soon as possible after evaluating the relevant presentations and evidence. The EFL does not control the proposed timetable as the proceedings are being handled by the Independent Disciplinary Commission.
‘Despite this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship Play-Off Final will take place as planned on Saturday 23 May, with a kick-off time confirmed at 4.30pm. However, fans should be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary hearing may lead to changes to the fixture.
‘The EFL has a number of contingency plans in place should this become necessary; These plans include consideration of any appeal process if necessary.’
Daily Mail Sports On Wednesday it was revealed privately that the man involved had been identified as Southampton trainee William Salt.
Our Spygate investigation also uncovered a photograph of Salt celebrating his February manager of the month award on the shoulder of Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert. Sources say salt is an important part of Eckert’s first-team operations and is highly valued by the Germans.
Interestingly, he was not in the photo of Eckert and his backroom team published last Thursday to mark the April Manager of the Month award. This was the day he was photographed in the bushes at Boro’s training base, before confronting club staff and fleeing the area after crashing into a nearby ground. golf club and changing clothes in the toilet.
Eckert also won the league trophy for March, and Salt was again missing from the celebration photo released to the media on 9 April. Southampton beat play-off rivals Derby County 2-1 two days later.
In another shock development, we learned the former Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa trainee used his debit card to buy coffee at Rockliffe Hall Golf Club, owned by Boro chairman Steve Gibson, on Thursday. The apparent shift has led to the possibility of a nationwide paper trail, with transactions close to the bases of other Championship clubs in the days before playing Southampton.
We know he believes he was under surveillance after a Championship club changed manager before playing for Eckert’s side in December. CCTV is being examined. Since his appointment as Saints boss in November, Eckert’s side have the second-best record from set-pieces in the Championship.
Boro now suspect that last Thursday’s incident was not the first time they have been the victims of such unsporting espionage. The legal team is therefore pressing Southampton and the accused spy to produce all relevant documents and records linked to the case, which will be heard by an independent disciplinary commission after the EFL accused the south coast club of breaching League rules.
A whistleblower is understood to have made a statement supporting suspicions that Southampton were spying on opponents ahead of matches. If it proves to be a systematic practice, serious questions will arise about the future of the senior members of the club who approve of this tactic.
The EFL’s statement came after Southampton removed play-off final ticket information from its website and had first announced on Wednesday that sales would begin on Friday morning.
The information stated that the tickets will be given to season ticket holders who attended 10 or more away games in the last two seasons.
Additional ticket windows for next Monday and Tuesday have also been announced by the club.
Southampton confirmed fFull ticket details, including bus travel and pricing, will be announced this morning.
But the Championship side pulled the information from their website not because of an ongoing spying investigation, but after the EFL was reportedly asked to release ticket details at the same time as play-off rivals Hull City.
