Southampton to use Derby County, Chelsea and Luton Town examples to fight play-off axe decision | OneFootball

The Saints believe they have been wronged by an independent commission over their Spygate offences

Does the Spygate saga have one last twist left in the tale? Southampton will certainly be hoping it does.

The Saints were ruthlessly kicked out of Saturday's planned Championship play-off final against Hull City by an independent commission after they were found guilty of not only spying on Middlesbrough less than 72 hours before the first leg of their semi-final clash, but also on Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season, with Boro placed into the final against the Tigers as a result.

A four-point deduction from next season's Championship total was also handed out, but almost immediately after news broke on May 19 of the club's punishment, the Southampton hierarchy appealed the severity of what was handed out to them, believing it to be disproportionate to the actual thing they were guilty of.

Southampton's final hope comes in the form of a new three-person appeals committee, the League Arbitration Panel, who could theoretically choose to override the original decision of expelling the south coast outfit from the play-offs and put them back into this weekend's contest against Hull, but whatever happens, that decision cannot be appealed and it is a final outcome.

Southampton CEO issues response to play-off expulsion ahead of Spygate appeal

And it's fair to say that the higher-ups at Southampton are not best pleased with the punishment handed out to them by the independent commission, with club CEO Phil Parsons releasing a statement ahead of finding out the outcome of their appeal.

Despite admitting the wrongdoing of the club for their spying offences, Parsons claims the punishment bears 'no proportion' to the actions that were committed, and that it is the largest ever penalty imposed on an English club despite others breaking financial rules significantly.

Parsons also name-dropped several other clubs' punishments over the years, including Luton Town's 30-point deduction in League Two for the 2008-09 season, Derby County's 21-point deduction in 2021, and also Chelsea's big financial hit of £10.75 million for a breach in undisclosed agent payments, which did not come with a sporting sanction - Southampton's hierarchy believes the independent commission were wrong to hand out a punishment that appears much stronger than any other past one in other cases.

The result of Southampton's appeal is expected to land on Wednesday evening or perhaps even on Thursday, leaving very little time for yet another fixture change to be made, with the final at Wembley currently looking likely to be Hull versus Middlesbrough - unless there's one more plot twist left in the tank.

Spygate drama may still not be over for good - even after Southampton find out their final punishment

Even when Southampton find out the decision of their appeal - whether they're reinstated into the play-off final or the punishment remains - the whole Spygate matter may not be done and dusted.

Southampton's guilt on multiple counts has opened up a new can of worms, with Wrexham potentially eyeing up legal action over the Saints, having narrowly missed out on the play-offs themselves, and Hull City will certainly be arguing their case if they go on to lose the showpiece play-off match on Saturday too.

It is a story that could rumble on for a good few months still no matter what the result of the planned Hull v Middlesbrough clash is on Saturday, so when the appeal result comes through, which is expected later on Wednesday, do not expect that to be the end of Spygate once and for all.