Dman

They are. I had a look when it came out they might be one of the clubs we were looking at. Honestly, even more accessible than Boro's. You could easily look through the fence from the public pavement out the front.

I can't see how a ban would be feasible if we are promoted. Who would apply the ban? How can you ban someone who hasn't breached any of your rules? i.e the FA or PL?

*** Risk of becoming that meme where Kirk from Corrie lookalike is handing his season ticket back *** I honestly think If the club sack anyone* off the back of this, they will lose me as a fan. I will not put a penny more into the club. *Other than the intern if he needs to be the fall guy. He deserves it for 1. being absolutley useless at hiding himself. 2. Not being more savvy when caught to play down the issue as a memeber of the public. 3. He'll be alright, he'll get a decent pay out.

Is it though? Other than boro fans & jurnos who've been employeed by the club to blow this up, the general feeling I'm getting is "it's a daft thing to do, fine them and move on". I think them releasing the photo was an own goal. It's made it a bit of a joke over anything serious. You get 2/3 clubs a year breaching FFP rules (cheating), how many of those suffer a knock on sponsorship impact?

You reckon? Come August, it'll all be forgotten.

Perhaps I have less intregrity than you, but I really do not think this is a big deal at all. I acknowledge its breaking the rules and therefore constitutes to 'cheating' by definition, but I am putting this in the same level of cheating as diving, wasting time etc. The fact this is only a rule in the EFL and nowehere else in the world demonstrates the level of (or shall I say lack of) seriousness around the issue. Talk of sacking the manager is ludicrous.

I also think its probably very unlikley that we would have stepped onto private land (or shall I say not publicly accessible) to spy. Therefore, obtaining any CCTV or evidence might prove to be too much hassel for what will likley be very small gains.

No chance the club sack either Spors or Tonda, unless they are essentially made to.

I think on balance of probability, its not. Proving that is another thing however.. especially if the evidence is "we have a written statement from a ex-employee who was sacked" and no other clubs have come forward. How far do the EFL want to take this? Who would even apply the ban in the event we go up? We've not breached any PL or FA rules How long would be considered a reasonable ban? 3 games, 3 months, 3 years? I just can't see it. Just more speculation comong from NE jurnos. One thing from this I have learned.... Boro have an incredible amount of leaks.

That chant of "Are you watching Middlesbrough" from 35k saints on Saturday is going to be soo fucking beautiful.

Nope. Absolutely the worst thing we could have done in this situation. We have handled it fantastically.

Yeah they hate Azaz for leaving their nothing club as well. Odd bunch.

If true I hope he chins him

If the commision are meeting today, how long would we usually expect the hearing to take? Fairly heavy in terms out potential outcome here, so guessing it will be next week before anything comes out

Genuinely reckon its all just a big wind up from them at this stage. Fair play to them though, they have me rattled.

I mean it wouldn't matter, we've sill clearly breached the rule.. However, if they were to use that as an example of 'sporting advantage', then yes - that might play a factor for mitigation.

Another reason to fuck off VAR by the way. opens up these sort of debates.

Honestly, at this point I don't even care anymore. Just getting there is 2 fingers up to Boro and a win in my book. I've that much anger towards their bitterness I am willing to be that petty.

Wembely, the week after us.

So their case will be; "here is our evidence they spied upon us [inserts copious amounts of potentially illegally obtained evidence (CCTV / Bank details from a 3rd party company)] We beleive that this is premeditated and not their first rodeo [inserts a witness statement]" again without sounding like a broken drum, none of that proves we have done it before. Might so intent to, but doesn't show that we've done it

Right, hear me out here.... Boro will be there as nothing more than a witness. Therefore, they can only present facts they personally observed and cannot speculate... Therefore, does that make all of the 'evidence' they have gather useless (unless another clubs comes forward - which would result in anotehr EFL charge)?

This is not helping our case that it wasn't professional surveillance footage.... 😂

Wasn't there reports pretty early on that they suspected we were tipped off by someone who knew that they had reduced security... No don't get carried away with this story. It would be absolute gold if it transpired to be the case...

Thought of the day. Does a witness statment (and lets assume some form of paperwork leading back to Spors) from an ex employee stating that we have asked them to scout opponents training, matter all that much if there is no evidence that we've actually done it before (within the 72 hour window)?

Thank god for that.