Former Southampton great offers refreshing take on Spygate scandal

Will the constant chatter surrounding Spygate 2.0 ever stop?

Southampton's punishment will soon be revealed, after weeks of being left in playoff purgatory, after overcoming Kim Hellberg's stern Middlesbrough 2-1 over two closely contested matches.

The EFL have now even come out with a statement to provide some clarity, with the Championship playoff final set to take place on the 23rd of May, unless an independent hearing decides to postpone the tense showdown.

Southampton's punishment continues to loom

Last week, the EFL would come out with a statement regarding the ongoing Spygate controversy, as they deliberate on what the Saints' punishment should be for prying on a Boro training session.

Stating that "the Commission will issue its decision as soon as possible following consideration of the relevant submissions and evidence", it still feels very much up in the air as to what the severity of the penalty will be for Tonda Eckert's men.

Many are calling for the South Coast giants to be expelled from the playoffs entirely, for their unsportsmanlike behaviour, while others are more laissez-faire when it comes to their anger involving the espionage tactics allegedly used.

For everyone's sake, let's hope a clear punishment comes from the EFL shortly, to bring the circus to a close, with Kevin Phillips weighing in with his own refreshing take when asked about the much-talked-about scandal.

Saints legend offers refreshing perspective

Phillips would go on to score 26 goals for the Saints across 73 appearances during the early noughties, meaning he is still held in high esteem today as a memorable past performer.

He will have gone up in the Southampton estimations even more when chiming in with his thoughts on the Spygate scandal, while another of the Saints' ex-strikers, Charlie Austin, just added to the mass hysteria by branding his former club a "disgrace."

He said, when asked about the spying tactics: "They need to make a decision quickly, very, very quickly, because of Hull as well and both clubs. My punishment wouldn't be kicking them out of the play-offs.

"It was over two legs, when I watched that first half [of the first leg], Middlesbrough could have been out of sight if they had taken their chances.

"So they clearly didn't learn an awful lot. But if it had been a one-game, it might have had a different conversation.

"But because it was over two legs, I wouldn't kick them out of competition, but I would seriously consider a points deduction at the start of next season or a huge fine."

Not one to be caught up in a sensationalised response that Southampton should be kicked out of the competition, the ex-Saints number seven instead responded level-headily, with a fine or a points deduction his solution.

These do feel like more realistic and reasonable punishments than kicking the South Coast club out of the playoffs entirely, with Leeds United previously fined in 2019 when Marcelo Bielsa was at the centre of his own snooping controversy.

Whatever penalty is handed the way of Eckert's men, the hope will be - in St Mary's quarters - that they can win the upcoming playoff final regardless, with the actual football to come in the playoff final taking a backseat.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow