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The thing I find strange about all of this is that if that was a PL fixture, its not against the rules and we therefore aren't considered 'cheats'. That surely has to have some impact in the mitigation.

If he was caught on CCTV from Will's right (as the Sky reporter mentioned) then who took that photo of him that's in The Mail as that's pretty much a photo of him straight on...or am I missing something/being dumb?

Possibly, but if you're trying to fight it in the media like they are, you're always going to go with your best, most incriminating photo. And as numerous non-biased people have said about that photo, 'Is that it?'

But it could be. And knowing that you act appropriately

Does it matter though? it would still be a rule breach (much like only using an iphone is). I guess it helps our arguement for mitigation.

This isn't a court case yet.

Why? That just exposes the EFL to legal action and the possibility of the final not going ahead as scheduled. Will be a 'mare for them. Also, worth considering the impact if this is, in fact, quite a common practice and the precedent that a sanction other than a fine and maybe a small points deduction sets.

I thought that was the case but in this year’s League Cup Final City had the west, Arsenal east. No doubt we’ll get the west…if all goes to plan - a niggling doubt remains that a decision could be made to wipe the first leg as #spygate and the subsequent manufactured outrage was over that game and they do this ‘3-0 home win’ bullshit which would put #crygate back into the final. Can of worms though so hopefully unlikely, lawsuits all over the place if that or similar were to happen.

Do we want to be the kind of team that goes whining to complain whenever something goes against us? We're not Boro.

We've only seen one photo released. We don't know what other CCTV (or other footage) they have. Have to imagine that's not the sum total of the media Boro have for this.

Except any offer or discussion is going to come with "WITHOUT PREJUDICE" attached.

As others have said it may be worth sending this to the club. Middlesbrough are being totally misleading about where this guy was.

Which is, no doubt, the intention. However, there's a reason that your solicitor tells you not to talk in public while there's a case going on. You can't win a case in the court of public opinion but you can definitely lose it by trying to fight it there. As Simon Jordan said on behalf of his mate "Gibbo" it's about getting Saints to try and settle now and extracting as much money from them as possible. If the EFL kicks us out and they get reinstated it's just a bonus.

You seem to be suggesting the EFL will be dictating the outcomes to the independent panel. Surely that would throw the integrity of the investigation into doubt and we would win any appeal? Let's hope we have any such suggestion in writing - or used our high tech, super spy recording equipment (iphone 14) to record the conversation

Call me a pessimist but the surge in media pressure calling us “cheats” could have a massive impact.

Not really SR - but we certainly seem to have gained a bit of 'edge / housery' about us since Parsons arrived. I like it.

Maybe saints tainted glasses here, but I think there is a world where the EFL want this cleared up ASAP so they might have said to saints... If you agree to an expedited process, we will remove explusion from the table. Keeps everyone happy in that case.

If that's the case, and they are the designated away side, I expect they will play in their full away kit as they did at SMS. Feels like we never get to be the designated home side at Wembley. I genuinely can't remember the FA Cup semis against Chelsea and Leicester, but I assume we would have worn our home kit against them no matter what. But all the other games I can remember in recent years - EFL final, playoff final and cup semi recently (although that was our choice), we haven't worn our home kit. The only time I can definitely remember we did was the JPT in 2011.

The rules state we have 14 days to respond. Whilst Boro wanted a 'quick hearing' we are entitled to follow the rules. The EFL would need to change the rules to get a 'quick hearing' which would take a lot longer than the 14 days we have to respond. There really is nothing to see regarding that point.

"Kim Hellberg, we all watched you cry"

My thoughts; 1. We have released them knowing that expulsion is off the cards and got a bit of a slap on the wrist from the EFL, who want to look as if it is for now. 2. We've done it to try and apply pressure to the EFL (as boro have been doing). Although I don't really think that achieves anything and just makes us look a little silly.

The independent panel shouldn't be "caving in" to anyone. They are there to look at evidence and make a decision based on that. If there is any caving in then Saints will obviously win on appeal.

That, and we may be in need of a new analyst by the end of the week....

In the unlikley event of them replacing us in the PO final, please round up as many people as possible and spend the week 'spying on thier training sessions' Extra points if you can get some footage and leak it online (or send to Hull). As a member of the public filming in a public place, there is nothing they can do about it 😃

I agree with you their case is pathetic and certainly doesn't warrant us being expelled from the playoffs. But they have created a media storm and the EFL may decide to cave in to the "popular" opinion.