While Hull City were celebrating promotion to the Premier League courtesy of an Oli McBurnie last-gasp winner, Southampton fans watching on must have been gutted that they weren't cheering on their side at Wembley.
Unfortunately, the Saints' season was cut horribly short by their Spygate punishment, as Tonda Eckert and Co. were kicked out of the playoffs entirely, having beaten Middlesbrough over two legs.
Kim Hellberg's men would go on to slip up at Wembley, which makes the first meeting between the two teams next season a feisty prospect, that's for sure.
Before the next campaign can get properly underway, though, all the repercussions of Spygate haven't come to light just yet.
Spygate will be sorely felt for some time
It's safe to say, the team that lined up to beat Boro 2-1, before being expelled from the competition, will not be the same team that gets the 2026/27 campaign underway for the South Coast club.
New developments suggest that Nurnberg - Caspar Jander's ex-club - will be taking the Saints to court, owing to a loss of around £860k, which would have come their way if Southampton won promotion.
To make matters worse, Jander will also likely depart, with reports suggesting that the German is keen to move on, away from the ongoing Spygate ordeal.
It hasn't happened yet, but several Southampton players will be in this boat now to try and push through a move away from the controversy-ridden club.
Ultimately, as well, Eckert's employment must be on the chopping block shortly, with it coming to light that he put the Saints intern under significant pressure to spy, costing his team their shot at promotion in the process.
It's hard at the moment to see any light at the end of the tunnel for the South Coast club, as their name continues to be dragged through the mud.
However, there could be some crumbs of optimism to hold onto when looking at a new transfer link, as they prepare to battle it out with a Premier League club for a highly rated youngster.
Looking to the future with new signings
Southampton could have to put their faith in some youngsters next season, with the first team numbers depleting due to the marred reputation of the Saints.
There are also a handful of players who look ready to fight it out for the club next season, despite everything that has transpired, with Samuel Edozie taking to social media to defiantly state that "I'll be ready" when the uncertain next campaign starts.
Southampton is also reportedly chasing after the signature of young Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Oliver Bellizia, according to Football Insider, who has admirers from Brighton and Hove Albion, the Saints' Premier League near neighbours.
Brighton and Southampton are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Oliver Bellizia. #bhafc #SaintsFC #ftfc pic.twitter.com/aHcWpICkqB
— Pete O'Rourke (@SportsPeteO) May 24, 2026
Formerly an academy graduate of Nottingham Forest, the 19-year-old is highly rated on the Lancashire Coast, having been out on loan this season at local non-league outfit Clitheroe.
Making a couple of appearances here and there for the Cod Army's U18 age bracket, Bellizia's next step could be to pack his bags and move down South.
He is very unlikely to be making immediate strides into the first team picture at Southampton when he does join, despite the current crisis engulfing proceedings at St. Mary's.
But, this is a signing that will hopefully ease some of the pain for the die-hard Saints masses, with the 19-year-old perhaps featuring in the first-team picture sometime down the line, when the horrors of Spygate are less excruciating.
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