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Southampton spying compendium thread

Kent Boy 2 said:
I know this is old news and that we’ve had this conversation before, but….. many lower division clubs had complained about the illegal payments that were being made, and most lower division supporters knew the rumours about what was happening. In 1986 Chester formally complained to the FA about it, they weren’t the first to complain and they certainly weren’t the last. Any Swindon fans or employees who say they didn’t know must have had their head in the sand - I’d heard the rumours and read it in the papers, and I was at school in the north west! Macari joined Swindon in 1984 and left in 1989. The illegal payments started in 1984 and finished in 1989. In my humble opinion Swindon got away with it. They cheated for 5 seasons across multiple divisions, and effectively got no punishment. The FA deliberately left the sentencing until after the play off final and then stated that for the purposes of the punishment they would be considered as a Division One side 🤷‍♂️. They were demoted 2 divisions, reduced to 1 on appeal - meaning that they stayed in exactly the same division (Division 2) as they were in when they were found guilty. They should have been put back into the division that they were in when the 5 years of cheating started - I.e. Division 4. It wasn’t just cheating, most of it was illegal, their chairman received a prison sentence, Macari was acquitted [in court] after he pleaded guilty to cheating but claimed that he had no idea he was breaking ‘legal’ laws only FA laws. Swindon were fined £7,500 - less than all of the 35 illegal payments that they admitted to making. And yes, they admitted to making 35 illegal payments…. basically to avoid the investigation into the suspicions that they were guilty of making many, many more illegal payments over the 5 years.
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Most clubs were at it at that time.
 

Swindon On Tour said:
Most clubs were at it at that time.
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I would suggest that probably all clubs and all managers around that time were making some form of illegal payment every now and then to get a transfer over the line. However, only one chairman and only one manager embedded illegal payments into the fabric of their club over a period of 5 years - it stopped immediately that Macari left and Ardiles took over. Swindon’s punishment for a period of 5 years of systematic cheating was effectively a £7.5k fine. Probably the most lenient punishment in English football history, and yet people say that they were made an example of.
 
The crazy thing is that they probably would've won today the knackers. Lots of ramifications coming their way, I'd be surprised if Southampton survive tbh.
 
look out piano said:
The crazy thing is that they probably would've won today the knackers. Lots of ramifications coming their way, I'd be surprised if Southampton survive tbh.
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They will survive, but will be hated by everyone for a long, long time.
As mentioned somewhere earlier, they and their fans will have to endure a load of stick for many years.
The cheats!
 
Kent Boy 2 said:
I would suggest that probably all clubs and all managers around that time were making some form of illegal payment every now and then to get a transfer over the line. However, only one chairman and only one manager embedded illegal payments into the fabric of their club over a period of 5 years - it stopped immediately that Macari left and Ardiles took over. Swindon’s punishment for a period of 5 years of systematic cheating was effectively a £7.5k fine. Probably the most lenient punishment in English football history, and yet people say that they were made an example of.
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Happened at most clubs and we were caught.
2 former Swindon players I mentioned also noting that they had received envelopes at 2 previous clubs.
As for poor Chester they were ripped apart in the then 4th division as we rightfully won promotion that evening to division 3. They always had that grudge.
Cracking atmosphere that night in a packed TE.
As said Tottenham like Swindon were caught and just fined. We were caught.
Doesn’t make it right.
Just like speeding. Most of us do it and sometimes you get caught and sometimes you don’t.

What a night….

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Kent Boy 2 said:
I would suggest that probably all clubs and all managers around that time were making some form of illegal payment every now and then to get a transfer over the line. However, only one chairman and only one manager embedded illegal payments into the fabric of their club over a period of 5 years - it stopped immediately that Macari left and Ardiles took over. Swindon’s punishment for a period of 5 years of systematic cheating was effectively a £7.5k fine. Probably the most lenient punishment in English football history, and yet people say that they were made an example of.
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Now that is not strictly true.
 
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