‘Spygate’ drama the source of sleepless nights for Middlesbrough’s Kim Hellberg

By Damian Spellman, Press Association

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg admitted he has not slept for a week and a half as the ‘Spygate’ saga has rumbled on.

The Teessiders’ complaints that a member of the Southampton staff had breached EFL rules by observing training before the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final between the clubs led to the Saints being excluded from the final this week, and Boro are now preparing for a game against Hull, which could yield a £200million reward.

However, as Hellberg prepared for his first-ever trip to Wembley, he revealed the episode has taken its toll on him.

🗣️ Kim Hellberg on Saturday's occasion:

"It's a special one because there have been so many ups and downs, but I'm proud of how we've handled it all as a team and as a club. We go there trying to win and will put all our energy into it." pic.twitter.com/P8kIfyeFfN

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 21, 2026

Asked about his dreams of victory, he said: “I don’t sleep! I haven’t slept for one and a half weeks, I think, so there are no dreams.

“Hopefully, I get a good night’s sleep today, and then I will tell you about the dreams tomorrow.”

Hellberg briefly took time out after the semi-final exit to travel back to his native Sweden with his son to let off steam.

He said: “I took my son to Sweden to see a Hammarby game. It was a 4-1 win so it was very nice for me – watching a game, drinking beer, shouting at the referee from the stands.

A League Arbitration Panel has today dismissed Southampton Football Club’s appeal against the Independent Disciplinary Commission’s decision in respect of breaches of EFL Regulations.

As a result, the original sanction remains in force. Southampton’s expulsion from the Sky Bet… pic.twitter.com/K9yfvMyoc1

— EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) May 20, 2026

“It gives you a bit of perspective on things and gave me some time with my son. I could think about something different.”

The ‘Spygate’ case came to a head on Tuesday, when an independent commission ruled that Southampton should forfeit their place in the final and the men from the Riverside Stadium take it instead, with the Saints’ subsequent appeal dismissed.

Asked if he had any sympathy for Southampton, Hellberg said: “It’s weird. Southampton is a big organisation with so many things involved in that.

“Of course, I feel a lot of sympathy for supporters paying for tickets, having booked, thinking they’re going to go to Wembley. For some players that were not involved and tried – there’s a lot of sympathy for different things.

“There’s a lot of sympathy for our fans, for Hull supporters in terms of not knowing when to play the game. It’s been a lot of sympathy for different things, and that is what this situation is about.

“It’s been weird for a lot of different teams and supporters, ups and downs that are not fair to them, but it also comes from the decision they have made. So, yes, I have a lot of sympathy for a lot of different people.”

Among the issues Hellberg, who will give midfielder Hayden Hackney until the last minute to prove his fitness, must solve are the facts that his players have had minimal training since the second leg of the Southampton tie, and are still dealing with the psychological impact of that defeat.

He said: “It’s very difficult to know (where the players are mentally) to be fair. After the Southampton game away from home with all the things that come with that, it was very tough. Then it’s been back and forth. We tried to keep them here, but it’s been impossible to train.”