Internal consequences needed at Saints - Tessem
Jo Tessem: 'It's a complete scandal for the club'
- Published
Former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem believes internal consequences are "absolutely" needed at the club after they were removed from the Championship play-offs.
Saints have been expelled from Saturday's play-off final for spying, replaced by Middlesbrough - who they beat 2-1 over two legs in the semi-final - and deducted four points for next season.
Tessem - who made more than 100 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals - believes people involved have to answer for their actions.
"The club have now lost the chance to win around £200m from the play-off final," he told BBC Radio Solent.
"There needs to be some responsibility now at Southampton - there has to be changes and decisions made at the club.
"This is not the way the football club we love should be run, this situation has put Saints in a really bad place with their reputation.
"There absolutely has to now be consequences within the club, there is no way around that."
Prior to Tuesday night's announcement by the EFL, Southampton were preparing to face Hull City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
The EFL shared that Saints had admitted to two further instances of spying, against Oxford United and Ipswich Town - two games they failed to win.
Despite the additional breaches, Tessem admitted he was still unsure if the punishment provided was one that matched the severity of the footballing crime.
"I'm in absolute shock, I can't believe it," Tessem added.
"It's an absolute scandal for the club, they've been hit with the hardest punishment they could have been possibly hit with, whether this is the right decision or not I'm not sure.
"This is not good news for this football club, I can only think that the fans must be furious about this.
"I'm speechless and disappointed the club had to go to these lengths to get their information, for Southampton Football Club this is a really sad day."
As of Wednesday morning, Saints are yet to release a statement of their own. The club are expected to appeal against their expulsion later in the day.
