Simon Jordan reveals action Steve Gibson would take if Southampton Spygate incident was reversed | OneFootball

Southampton have released a statement after being charged with spying on a Middlesbrough training session

Southampton are hosting Middlesbrough for the second leg of their Championship play-off semi-final clash on Tuesday, but the build-up to the game has once again been dominated by the spying incident.

The Saints have been charged by the EFL after Boro alleged that a member of the South Coast club's staff spied on their training session ahead of Saturday's first leg.

Amid that tense backdrop, Middlesbrough and Southampton played out a 0-0 draw at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, with both sides hitting the woodwork.

The winner of Tuesday's second leg will face Hull City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on 23 May, after the Tigers beat Millwall 2-0 on Monday.

Simon Jordan reveals what Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson would do if his manager was charged with spying

Middlesbrough and Southampton both earned 80 points in the regular Championship season, showing how little there is to split between the two sides.

However, off-field matters have dominated discussions regarding the play-off clashes between Kim Hellberg's men and Tonda Eckert's side, thanks to the spying charge handed to the Saints.

On Tuesday, just hours before the second leg clash at St Mary's Stadium, Southampton said they are fully cooperating with the EFL and the Disciplinary Commission via an official club statement.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT host Simon Jordan revealed that he thinks Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson would have taken serious action by now if it were Boro that had been accused of spying, rather than the Saints.

Speaking live on Tuesday's episode of White & Jordan, the former Crystal Palace chairman said: "I think Gibson, if he was in situ, in terms of it’s his manager, I think he would have fired his manager."I think he feels that strongly. I know him. I’ve seen him for years operate in a certain way. I think Steve would have taken a view that that’s not the way the game is played, that’s not the ethics of the game."Regardless of whether Southampton advance to the Championship play-off final, the full ramifications of their spying charge are yet to be decided.A similar incident occurred in 2019, when Leeds United were found spying on a Derby County training session, which prompted the EFL to create their current legislation on such matters.As per Teesside Live, EFL punishments for watching or filming opposition training up to 72 hours before a game could include points deductions, fines and transfer embargoes, and the Disciplinary Commission can order any sanction they deem fit.

Southampton could take Tonda Eckert sack action if Saints are found guilty of spying

Intriguingly, Jordan thinks that Gibson, who he says he knows well, would have sacked Boro boss Hellberg by now if the spying allegations were the other way round.

Meanwhile, if the EFL and the Disciplinary Commission find that Southampton did spy on a Middlesbrough training session last week, the Saints will have a serious decision to make regarding Eckert's future, if the German was involved in the scandal.

Eckert has proven himself as one of the best managers in the second tier, as the St Mary's Stadium side haven't lost in the Championship since their 2-1 defeat to potential play-off final opponents Hull on 17 January.

However, as Jordan alluded to, spying on an opposition training session is against the spirit of the game and EFL rules, so some owners may choose to sack their manager for such incidents.