While they wouldn’t admit it, the EFL hierarchy was probably relieved by the outcome, given Tigers owner Acun Ilicali had indicated he could take legal action had they lost. Victory for semi-final losers Boro would have potentially opened another can of worms. While aggrieved at being kicked out of the play-offs, the saga was of Southampton’s own making after they sent a junior analyst to watch a Boro training session on the eve of the semi-finals. It subsequently emerged that the Saints had done the same ahead of regular-season games against Oxford and Ipswich. Boro’s complaint led to a febrile atmosphere ahead of both legs.
Fans of the north-east club were furious, while Saints supporters, initially, tried to make light of the situation, with some dressing as spies for the second leg, while Taylor Harwood-Bellis performed a binoculars celebration following the extra-time winner.
Given what transpired afterwards, those gags aged like milk on a sweltering May Bank Holiday. Harwood-Bellis – Roy Keane’s soon-to-be son-in-law – did at least apologise for his actions.
Southampton’s perceived lack of contrition over the saga didn’t sit well with many. While they eventually admitted to wrongdoing, the club didn’t take kindly to questions, with the press officer halting a press conference and telling a reporter to “show some respect” when a sheepish-looking Tonda Eckert was asked if he was a cheat.
Eckert was subsequently found to have authorised the spying mission, claiming he wasn’t aware it was against the rules and arguing the practice was commonplace in mainland Europe. Again, that ‘excuse’ did him and his club few favours in the court of public opinion.
The upshot of Southampton’s removal and Boro’s Wembley defeats means the unlikely rivals will do it all again next season. The Saints’ only real grudge match was against Portsmouth, while Boro look to Newcastle and Sunderland.
But the needle between the two clubs is unlikely to subside in the space of a couple of months. An early-season meeting would be especially spicy.
The continued presence of Eckert in the Saints’ dugout would make those games even more toxic, although the German is widely expected to be sacked for his role in the saga. Either way, relations between the clubs could take years to heal.