The south-coast club will appeal the decision, which also sees them handed a four-point deduction for the 2026-27 season in the Championship

Forty-six rounds of games later, the race for promotion in the English Football League has hit its thrilling conclusion. It's the playoffs, the 15 games in League Two, League One and the Championship that seem never to disappoint.

Sometimes you have to be brave enough to hold your hands up and admit you were wrong. Even Jeff Stelling is not immune from a bold pre-season prediction backfiring, as the talkSPORT host admitted

The major task facing the EFL, if Southampton are found guilty, will be to hand down a fair punishment that also acts as a deterrent to any other club who might try to spy on their opponents. Southampton boss Tonda Eckert and his staff could also face disciplinary action through the FA, although the EFL process must conclude first.

It was a day full of drama as Hull City nipped Wrexham at the wire to slip into sixth and the last seed in the promotion playoffs