Southampton fans must forget now what life felt like as a Saints supporter before the jaw-dropping Spygate scandal was revealed.
Indeed, mentioning the term 'Spygate' is now synonymous with the South Coast club, rather than with Marcelo Bielsa's own prying tactics back in 2019 at Leeds United.
It's going to be a summer of much change at St. Mary's, as faces such as Leo Scienza exit the building after their Premier League hopes were heartbreakingly dashed by Southampton's playoff expulsion.
There are also several Southampton players who will leave the club at the expiry of their contracts, even as the Saints scramble to have enough numbers ahead of next season.
Southampton players who will leave at the end of their contracts
Various senior players who been on the books of the Saints for some time will surely be moved on this summer.
Indeed, after a frustrating loan stint out at Leicester City, it's probably in everyone's best interests at St. Mary's if Joe Aribo is moved on, having only featured seven times in the Southampton ranks last season, before being chucked out to the relegated Foxes.
Alongside Aribo, Charlie Taylor also fits into the bracket of another seasoned head who is unlikely to have his Saints deal extended past this summer.
He fared better out on loan with West Bromwich Albion than Aribo managed in the Midlands, with 28 appearances under his belt. Still, at 32 years of age, he isn't at an age where he will be making significant first-team strides at St. Mary's anytime soon, with Ryan Manning hopefully staying put as the Saints' first choice left back.
There is also the unfortunate tale of Will Smallbone that must be addressed this off-season, with the 26-year-old once a promotion hero under Russell Martin, who could now just be discarded.
Smallbone must be moved on for his own sake
The Irishman was a key part of Martin's promotion-chasing machine during the 2023/24 season, going on to score six goals and pick up three assists across 43 league starts, as the Saints beat Leeds United to clinch promotion via the playoffs.
Since then, however, it has been a tough struggle for the Southampton academy product at his boyhood club, with the 2024/25 season seeing him slide right down the pecking order, as the South Coast side floundered in the Premier League.
He would only be handed six starts by several different Saints managers, leading to him being loaned out to Millwall last summer, as he was no longer deemed a vital part of the first-team structure.
His time out on loan with the Lions will have only firmed up Southampton's belief that the 26-year-old isn't cut out for first-team minutes at his parent club anymore, with Alex Neil handing the number 39 a measly four Championship starts, as promotion fell to the wayside at the Den, alongside his action.
Missing 29 games all campaign through recurring injury issues, too, the time does feel right for Southampton to cut ties with the 15-time Republic of Ireland international, even as Spygate brings about uncertain times at St. Mary's.
For Smallbone's sake, he needs to go to a club where he will be handed regular minutes, rather than being thrown back into a Southampton team that will start the season bottom of the Championship pile on minus four points.
Whatever does happen with Smallbone, Southampton fans will always remember him for his heroics during the 23/24 season, even if he's never been able to match this magic since.
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