Martin Tooth

From journalism to financial services communications. Words are my currency. #Saintsfc fan since early 80s. 45+ years as a grassroots footballer.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

Just witnessed snow storm sweep into central London from the east with impressive speed #uksnow #snowmageddon

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@WelshErnie It does also say in that same section that a financial penalty would be rendered meaningless by the prize on offer through promotion, so consideration has also been given to the prize.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

Not condoning in any way what #Saintsfc are guilty of but this process has just seen people make up punishments as they go along. What would the punishment have been if we’d lost to Boro? What about if spying had been discovered after Oxford? Nobody knows. No clarity, just chaos

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@WelshErnie I think it’s now pretty clear from the ruling that the punishment was partly issued in consideration of the possible prize.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@WelshErnie You’re referring to the principle of expulsion, but the punishments for the specific regulations drawn up after the Leeds spying affair in 2019 (note the date) were not set out in any way prior to this matter, which was my only point. Now the precedent has been set.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@shevvyt A long and painful one

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@WelshErnie They weren’t. Everyone else who has been following this story knows that.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@Budgiekiller If we’d beaten you to second, it may never have come to light. Not this season at least.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@MattTrutweinSBE I’m not deflecting or defending and have never attempted to do that, but I don’t think it should have been beyond the EFL to set out some punishment expectations/guidelines when the regulations were drawn up. You never know, it might even have acted as a deterrent 😞

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@philclarke0170 @whitcher_j38836 No “he’s” not saying that.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@MattTrutweinSBE No, you’ve missed the point.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@shevvyt Why ever, of course, but also why now when things appeared to be going so well.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@JonD_BCFC Won’t dispute that

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@nickwaites11 You’ve just emphasised my point. Thanks for dropping by.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@nickwaites11 Give it up Nick. Your profile suggests you should be better than this.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@nickwaites11 I will, thanks. Far more important things in life than football.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@PompeyNev Not disputing that. But clarity would have benefited everybody caught up in this sorry saga.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@nickwaites11 I think that response says more about you than it does about me to be honest.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@CharlieFarnsba9 100% agree and I’m sure this is a stain we will have to wear and be reminded of for many, many years to come. Some fans thrive on that and therefore will look outwardly for others to blame. Many others, like me, do not and feel so let down by the club.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@davetait1981 If we’d been caught spying earlier, the whole sequence of events changes (and the manager), so no one can say how things would have turned out. That’s the point.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@samtate I guess only time will tell if another case arises and this judgement is used as a marker for those.

[Martin Tooth @Toothy73]

@samtate But that’s the point - it wasn’t pre-determined that it would be expulsion. It could have been a fine or just a points deduction. Bar now set and will ensure greater clarity for all.