Andy Coates

worked in politics, Priest and Vicar @AlexParkParish

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

Rowan Williams on Desmond Tutu

[Alexandra Park Parish, St Andrew’s Church @alexparkparish]

Tomorrow! With @NorfolkHouseSch #evensong #bcp #choralevensong

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

‘We want to use Henry’s heartbreaking story to make change for the better. We do not want his death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone’ - Henry Nowak's father.

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

#Spygate isn’t the litmus test for integrity and morality in modern football. Plenty has been wrong with the game for years - owners, bungs, tapping up, diving etc - yet parts of media coverage and severity of punishment suggests all was well until #saintsfc screwed up…

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

@MrJoshBarber We’d have been nowhere near the premier league (not to mention the F.A Cup final) after the start we had without a manager of Tonda’s obvious ability. Maybe that’s why many fans seem willing to give him a crack at redemption in view of his remorse?

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

@charliewring1 Absolutely

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

FA, LMA and the Leeds United board will deal with #Spygate and Bielsa now. What it also confirms is #lufc fans’ intense passion for their team. Siege mentality at Elland Road will help their push for promotion. Last night showed the huge support - and the quality of Bielsa’s team

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

@henrywinter Dont see how this undermines contrition? One can be bitter re what many perceive to be disproportionate penalty&still apologise for mistakes. Respectfully however, there seems to be glaring inconsistency in your whole approach on this vs Bielsa affair notwithstanding rule changes

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

Wow

[Southampton FC @SouthamptonFC]

A personal message from Head Coach, Tonda Eckert.

[Cleverly 💐 @Cleverlydey4u]

Marquinhos comforts his international teammate Gabriel after his penalty miss costs Arsenal the Champions League...🥺🇧🇷

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

‘Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future’ - Oscar Wilde #saintsfc #tonda

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

#Spygate isn’t the litmus test for integrity and morality in modern football. Plenty has been wrong with the game for years - owners, bungs, tapping up, diving etc - yet parts of media coverage and severity of punishment suggests all was well until #saintsfc screwed up…

[Adam Azor @AdamAzor]

The #saintsfc punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Hopefully the appeal will be focused on this @MarkJLittlewood said it perfectly. “Its like being sentenced to death if you shoplifted”. It should have been a fine, ban for those involved & suspended points deduction at most. Madness

[BBC Radio 4 Today @BBCr4today]

"Spygate's not Watergate."

Former FA and Man City chairman David Bernstein criticises the expulsion of Southampton from the Championship play-offs after the team was caught spying on rivals, saying the offence was 'trivial'.

[Saint Alastair @Saint_Alastair]

Don’t suppose there is any chance they’d let us off with a cheating awareness course? #saintsfc

[BBC 5 Live Sport @5liveSport]

"This is the darkest day in Southampton's 141 year history."

@AdamBlackmore gives a damning verdict on Southampton after they were kicked out of the play-offs for spying.

#BBCFootball #SaintsFC

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

The darkest day for #saintsfc

[Luke Coppen @LukeCoppen]

Sobering new data from the British Social Attitudes survey: https://t.co/HrrU3UuV3z
https://t.co/lmDGiRpsOo 🇬🇧

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

@SaintsExtra @MirrorFootball So leaks like a sieve between now and Tuesday then…

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

@AlfieHouseEcho https://t.co/ZBe1DvSvv1

[Andy Coates @Andy_Coates]

Journalists having a pop at fans for what, in the main, is simply helpless gallows humour over #spygate says a lot about state of modern football which wouldn’t be without fans and yet so often they’re treated as if on lowest rung of the ladder…#saintsfc

[slbsn @slbsn]

🚨🤓 Southampton Spygate personal view:
1. Expect the breaches will be straightforward to establish (ie liability) and almost certainly admitted to try and get some sanction credit/discount
2. Expect aggravating factors such as other examples of Soton spying this year to be raised
3. Fundamental question of how serious a breach of rule 127 and good faith is will be key. We know good faith alone was £200k in the Leeds case. The new rule makes it worse and spying obviously seeks a sporting advantage - why else do it? So that does point to sporting sanction of some sort
4. Being thrown out of the Play Offs appears excessive especially given Southampton finished 7 points clear of 6th and 9 clear of 7th
5. A 3-0 in the first leg would have been an option again excessive retrospectively unless 2nd leg re-playable (not feasible)
6. More likely sanction is points deduction next season in the Championship as much as that won't help Middlesboro
7. Unlikely that the PL will take a points deduction recommendation from the EFL (no fixed rule) - doubt EFL will push for it, so would apply in first season back in Championship (when and if)
8. My best guess is SIX EFL points in first season in EFL and £500k-£1m fine
9. Boro compensation claim can be dealt with separately subject to any claim brought by Boro - difficult claim to establish due to causation issues