Need to know
- According to The Times, Southampton will discover the outcome of the “Spygate” case on Wednesday, May 20.
- Their report confirms that a verdict from the independent commission will be delivered no more than 24 hours after the conclusion of the hearing, which got underway on Tuesday.
- The Daily Echo, however, reports that Southampton are hopeful of receiving at least an indication of the likely outcome of the Spygate hearing on Tuesday itself, even if the full and final verdict is not delivered until Wednesday.
- Possible penalties include a points deduction, expulsion from the play-off final, or a financial fine. The latter, however, is considered unlikely, with ‘sporting sanctions’ said to be on the table should it be established that senior club figures were aware of the spying operation.
- Saints head coach Tonda Eckert and sporting director Johannes Spors could both face bans if found guilty.
- Southampton’s intern analyst William Salt, who was photographed allegedly filming Boro’s training session, may also face a separate individual punishment.
- The ongoing saga has left Hull City in an agonising state of uncertainty, with the play-off final, scheduled for Saturday, May 23, hanging in the balance. Speaking to Sky Sports on the matter, former Hull defender Michael Dawson said: “Well, I absolutely hate it. The integrity of the game, the sportsmanship, and yes, look, managers, players, you try to make an advantage wherever you can, but going to do, if found guilty is unacceptable. They’ve got a big decision to make and they have to make it quick, cos you’ve got to think of all the Hull City fans that have booked the travel, the hotel, what will be the outcome?”
- Dawson added: “Only time will tell, but the EFL have certainly got a big, big decision to be made because we saw what happened with Leeds United when they were fined £200,000 a few years ago. I don’t like it, and I expect them to be punished severely.”
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