Southampton ask for more time over spying claims

"The English Football League has accused Saints of "observing, or attempting to observe, another club's training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match" and not acting "with the utmost good faith" to another club. Middlesbrough claim that a member of the Southampton coaching staff was found watching and recording a training session at their Rockliffe Park base on Thursday - two days before the teams drew 0-0 at Riverside Stadium in the first leg of their play-off semi-final."

"Normally the south coast club would have 14 days to respond to the charges, but the EFL has asked the independent disciplinary commission for "a hearing at the earliest opportunity". The clubs meet at St Mary's in the second leg on Tuesday evening, with the winners facing Hull City in the final at Wembley on 23 May."

""The club is fully co-operating with the EFL and the disciplinary commission, whilst also undertaking an internal review to ensure that all facts and context are properly understood," said Southampton CEO Phil Parsons. "Given the intensity of the fixture schedule and the short turnaround between matches, we have requested time to complete that process thoroughly and responsibly.""

""We understand the discussion and speculation that has followed over recent days, but we also believe it is important that the full context is established before conclusions are drawn.""

Southampton have been charged by the English Football League with observing, or attempting to observe, another club’s training session within 72 hours of a scheduled match, and with failing to act with the utmost good faith. Middlesbrough say a Southampton coaching staff member was found watching and recording a training session at their Rockliffe Park base on Thursday, two days before the teams drew 0-0 at Riverside Stadium in the first leg of their play-off semi-final. Southampton normally would have 14 days to respond, but the EFL has asked for a hearing at the earliest opportunity. The clubs meet again at St Mary’s for the second leg, with the final at Wembley on 23 May. Southampton say they are cooperating and conducting an internal review to establish full context.

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