Ayling to face Gelhardt at Wembley after Southampton expelled | OneFootball

Luke Ayling is set to face former Leeds United teammate Joe Gelhardt at Wembley on Saturday after Middlesbrough were reinstated to the Championship play-off final.

The EFL said in a statement that Southampton had been expelled from the play-offs for unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training and handed a four-point deduction for 2026/27, with Middlesbrough to face Hull City in the final on Saturday 23 May, kick-off to be confirmed.

Middlesbrough had lost their semi-final to Southampton 2-1 on aggregate, a tie overshadowed by spying allegations. Ayling and his teammates continued preparing for a potential final while the investigation took place.

Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has admitted spying on three clubs, with breaches covering training sessions within 72 hours of matches against Oxford United in December 2025, Ipswich Town in April 2026 and Middlesbrough in May 2026.

Southampton have appealed the decision and a separate hearing is due today, accelerated because the final is on Saturday. The Saints are the second Championship club punished for spying, after Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa in 2018/19.

Ayling was part of that Leeds squad and is now on the other side of the controversy. Middlesbrough have been back in training this week and now travel to London with a chance to reach the Premier League against Hull, where Gelhardt is on loan from Leeds.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk