Middlesbrough and Southampton’s Spygate saga continues after a member of the Saints’ staff was caught allegedly filming Boro’s training session before the Championship play‑off semi‑final first leg
The coming hours could prove significant for Middlesbrough in the ongoing Spygate case(Image: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)
Middlesbrough are awaiting the final outcome of the Spygate row, with the next 24 hours set to be crucial after Southampton’s alleged ‘spy’ was identified as analyst William Salt. An image showing a person standing behind a tree filming Boro’s training session has since been published.
The incident is understood to have taken place within 72 hours before the Championship play‑off semi‑final first leg, with Boro holding CCTV footage of the alleged intruder in the camp. Southampton have since been charged with misconduct by the EFL.
According to The Telegraph, the next 24 hours will prove ‘crucial’ for a final verdict as an independent panel hearing evidence looks to expedite the case. Boro have hired leading sports lawyer Nick De Marco to handle the matter.
De Marco is regarded as one of the country’s top sports lawyers and has won several high‑profile cases, including Newcastle United’s successful challenge against the Premier League during their takeover.
Boro reportedly also have evidence from at least two other Championship rivals who believe they were ‘spied on’.
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Meanwhile, local Labour MP Andy McDonald has demanded greater respect for Teesside and urged the EFL to take swift action. Posting on X, McDonald MP wrote: “Kim Helberg’s post-match interview showed his decency, commitment and total integrity.
“By contrast, the Southampton manager walks out again when asked if he is a cheat. Remarkable lack of awareness for the club spokesman to respond with ‘Have some respect.’
“What respect did they show to Kim Helberg, his players, to MFC and our fans? Southampton cannot be allowed to profit from their dishonesty. The EFL have to come down firmly and decisively on Southampton and they need to do it quickly.”
Kim Hellberg’s players will continue training ahead of the play‑off final on May 23 despite Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat in the return leg at St Mary’s, while Hull City wait to see who they will definitely face at Wembley.
With uncertainty still hanging over the charges against Southampton, the finalists could face anything from a fine to being kicked out of the promotion battle entirely.
Here, the Gazette takes a look at the latest around Spygate as Boro await a final decision ahead of the Championship play‑off final.
‘Spy’ identified
Southampton’s ‘spy’ appears to have been identified as analyst William Salt. It’s claimed that Salt watched tactical drills and held a mobile phone in landscape, standing half hidden behind a tree by Middlesbrough’s Rockliffe training ground.
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It is also claimed that Salt used his bank card to buy a coffee at the Steve Gibson-owned Rockliffe Hall Golf Club.
Matt Le Tissier verdict
Saints icon Matt Le Tissier believes players should not be punished for the season they have had until now, should his old club be found guilty, arguing that any sanctions should target the club rather than the squad.
Le Tissier feels Southampton players shouldn’t be punished(Image: Getty Images)
“I really hope that with the stuff that’s gone on off the pitch, that the players don’t get punished because they’ve put a brilliant effort since January, unbeaten in the league since the middle of January, and to take away from that achievement would be really harsh,” he wrote. “But we’ll see what happens, and we’ll go from there.”
James Corden suggests heavy punishment
During a rare talkSPORT appearance, TV host James Corden weighed in on the situation.
“If Southampton go up, they would make what, £150m plus, then you’ve got to give 50 per cent of next year’s revenue whichever league you’re in to Middlesbrough because you have prevented – because you’re cheating, and it is cheating, if found guilty,” he said.
“Next year, regardless of whatever league you’re in, 50 per cent of your revenue or your projected revenue, so it has to be paid at the start of the season, will be paid to them as compensation. So if they go up, they’ve got to give them £75m.
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“I think we should also stop calling it ‘Spygate’ and we should just call it cheating. It’s just cheating. It’s just cheating the system. That’s all you’re doing. You’re cheating the system, those fans, those players so therefore, you should have to pay a very severe and heavy price.”
Tonda Eckert’s comments
Tonda Eckert stormed out of a second press conference in four days following his side’s victory over Boro on Tuesday. A press officer cut off questioning when the manager was asked if he was a cheat and said:
The Saints boss offered little when questioned over the Spygate incident. Eckert said: “Thank you very much, show some respect, that’s all we ask. Well done.
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“It’s not easy for me to not comment. There’s just nothing that I can say at the moment because it is an ongoing investigation. We’re taking the matter very seriously and I will say something. I just can’t say it now.”
Hellberg’s remarks
After the semi-final second leg, Hellberg said: “We will see what happens. First thing is that I want to congratulate the Southampton players. They’ve done brilliantly. To their supporters, they haven’t been a part of this.
“They need to be congratulated and happy for their team. I want to say that to them. I think they deserve it. They fought very well. Then, of course, for me in a role as a coach, because that’s the thing I can talk about from my perspective.
“I worked 15 years as a coach to try to get to the Premier League. That’s my dream. That’s been my dream for 15 years. When that is taken away from you, I think it’s no longer fair. It has nothing to do with what they see or what they saw, how they affected the game, or if it was free kicks they saw, or goal kicks they saw, whatever they saw.”