REACTION | Southampton EXPELLED from Championship Play-Offs

Miracles don't come along too often but if you're in the Middlesbrough camp it has done in the last few minutes because this breaking news has stunned the world of football this evening.You would have heard about Spygate around Southampton.The Independent Commission met today and they have decided to expel Southampton from the playoffs which means Barring an appeal which will take place potentially over the next 24 hours, we'll now have a playoff final on Saturday between Hull City and Middlesbrough.Wow, what a story.Michael Dawson, of course, former Hull City man.What do you make of that?

Wow it's a huge decision that they've come to and you know there's been a lot of speculation over the last week or so and now it's over to Middlesbrough.Will they appeal that?I'm sure Southampton will but they've made a big call and now on the flip side for Hull City what do they do?Do they start paying for Middlesbrough?All they can do is concentrate on themselves and only time will tell, but it's a huge, huge call.

It's a really interesting point you raise, Michael, how it might disrupt Hull City's preparations as well as Middlesbrough.We know they've been training, trying to keep themselves sharp, but they probably thought their chance was gone, Daniel, in effect, having lost the playoff semifinal to St Anton.Is this a free shot now for them?

It's not a free shot, you know, because ultimately they're now preparing themselves.If the decision is upheld, of course, the prayers would have been answered, you know, for the Middlesbrough players if it isn't.And they get to go out there and try and get back in the Premier League.So for them, it's a massive opportunity.It's all going to unfold very soon.

What a story, amazing drama, always in the playoffs.But I don't remember a story quite as big as this one.