SOUTHAMPTON were thrown out of the Championship play-off final by an independent commission consisting of a former Middlesbrough player.
Saints were jettisoned out of the play-offs this week after it emerged that they’d sent a junior analyst intern to SPY on a Middlesbrough training session 48 hours before the first leg of their semi-final.
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Soutampton were this week kicked out of the Championship play-off final Credit: GETTY
They were booted out of the richest game in world football after being caught spending an intern to spy on Middlesbrough
The south coast side appealed the punishment, which also included a four-point deduction for next season, but saw their efforts to reverse the verdict rejected by a three-person panel.
And it’s since emerged that one of the panel members is former footballer-turned-solicitor David Winnie, who played one game for Boro back in 1994.
His previous affiliation with the north east club, who will now take Saints‘ place in Saturday’s final against Hull, has led to chatter of potential bias.
But the Scot, a partner and Head of Sports at Gilson Gray LLP, has hit out at suggestions his brief stint at the Riverside played a role in Saints being given the boot.
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Middlesbrough will play Hull City in Saturday’s final at Wembley Credit: ALAMY
Former Boro star David Winnie was part of the three-man panel who decided to boot Saints out of the play-offs Credit: ALAMY
He told PA: “The suggestion that a single appearance for Middlesbrough Football Club more than three decades ago could in any way influence my judgment as a member of an independent disciplinary commission is wholly without foundation.
“My involvement with the club consisted of one professional appearance approximately 33 years ago and has no bearing whatsoever on my ability to approach these proceedings impartially and objectively.
‘As with all commission members, my duty was to consider only the evidence, the applicable EFL regulations, and the submissions advanced by the parties.
“The decision reached was unanimous and followed detailed legal argument, documentary evidence, witness testimony and careful deliberation by an experienced independent panel.
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Tonda Eckert’s future at St Mary’s is in major doubt following Saints’ play-off expulsion Credit: GETTY
‘At no stage was any issue raised by either party regarding my independence or suitability to sit on the commission.
“Had there been any legitimate basis for concern, the appropriate procedures existed for that to be addressed before the hearing proceeded.
‘Professional integrity in these proceedings is paramount.
“My role was to uphold the integrity of the competition and apply the regulations fairly, without fear or favour, and that is precisely what the commission did.”
The pre-match spying, according to the panel, was authorised by Saints manager Tonda Eckert.
The commission wrote: “We have concluded that there was, on the part of the respondent, a contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage in competitions of real significance by deliberate attendance at opposition training ground for the purpose of obtaining tactical and selection info,.
“It involved far more than innocent activity and a particularly deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff to conduct the clandestine observations at the direction of senior personnel.”
German Eckert has yet to issue a statement on Saint’s play-off expulsion, which could very well lead to him being handed his P45.
