coalman

Even in the vanishingly unlikely even that the FA doesn't ban him, then no. Him staying on as a manager would be too much of a distraction on and off the pitch.

The Freedom of Information Act covers public bodies. So I imagine they'd just ignore all of them.

On the one hand it feels like a disproportionate response considering all the other cheating that goes on in the game. But, if you dive in the box you know you may get a yellow card. The punishment is well defined. In this case the last time it happened in the EFL there wasn't a rule. Choosing to be the test case of the rule was never the brightest thing. The rules aren't fair in terms of punishments. That's life. We broke one where the most recent punishment from FIFA was a suspension and massive sporting penalty - that precedent is probably what sunk us. If we didn't know the rule was there that's still on us. Eckert sent his analysts to gather information during the 72 hour period. It doesn't matter whether the EFL is the only league with this rule. It doesn't matter if the rule is a bit stupid given how easy it would be to spy without being completely amateur. It was his job to know this. Yes, it's been a bit of a media led witch hunt by people who've completely changed their tune since Leeds and seem mostly indifferent to Man City and Chelsea. None of that matters in the final reckoning. Even if he hasn't lost the dressing room (which is unlikely) Saints cannot afford the distraction of this being the story every single week we show up to play football. Yes, that means another spin (or seven) on the Sport Republic manager merry go round. We'd be crazy not to view that process with the trepidation it deserves. But, there's no way we can continue with Tonda at the helm.

I would imagine there's a due process aspect to his dismissal as well if they want to minimise compensation. Though I wouldn't rule out that we're just taking the dumbest course of action in line with previous behaviour.

I'll say this. The redemption arc of this story is going to need to something else.

When you change managers and your leadership team so often there should be no surprise when you have no corporate governance.

He figured out how to get the players playing for each other which no one has done since Ralph. Then lost it all through stupidity and ignorance. It's a shame but he has to go as does anyone who was part of it. We've given the opportunity of a fair hearing. Next season we have the Sport Republic manager merry go round to look at again.

Because we didn't know what Saints would be presenting at the hearing. Everyone deserve a fair hearing. If you're the manager it's your job to know the rules in your league.

Thanks for letting us know, Karen.

It reminds me of last season when Martin blamed everything but his own tactics for what went on. That created a culture where people didn't take responsibility that carried over into this season. It meant that when anything went against us on the pitch our heads would drop and we'd give up because we knew it "wasn't our fault". Compare that to Hull's response. Which amounts to "we'll beat whoever you put in front of us on the pitch and please stop fucking with our fans".

That wouldn't alter the fact that we'd breached the rules as they stand but it would offer substantial mitigation of what happens next. Until the panel publishes its findings, we hear the sanction (if any) and from Saints it's all just speculation.

If it's taken by a club photographer it's likely to have been a long lens. Could've been a long way away.

As I see it - the only way we wouldn't contest the charge would be if we didn't have someone watching the train in the 72 hours leading up to the game. And if we have evidence of that the hearing would have been over already.

Which applies equally to what has been briefed to the press against us as much as it does to our own case.

Fair. And agreed.