The independent disciplinary commission who decided to expel Southampton from the play-offs and give them a four-point deduction for next season said senior figures gave their backing to the spying scheme in a “contrived and determined plan from the top down”.

And they accused Southampton of behaving deplorably by putting William Salt – the intern pictured filming a Middlesbrough training session – under pressure to carry out their wishes and taking advantage of his lack of job security.

The commission published their written reasons for the punishment doled out to Southampton and said they had “seriously violated” the integrity of the play-offs and that it required a serious sporting sanction.

Kim Hellberg knows he will have a story to tell whatever happens to Middlesbrough at Wembley.

When it was put to him that he could hardly have had a more eventful first season in English football, Hellberg said: “No, no. That sums it up quite quite well, to be fair.

“It’s been up and downs and a roller coaster, and a welcome to England that’s been special. They told me I have some chapters in my book about this year to write later on.”

7 May: A Southampton intern by the name of William Salt was caught filming a closed Middlesbrough training session ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final tie.

9 May: The EFL formally charges Southampton with breaching anti-spying regulations and launches disciplinary proceedings.

12 May: Southampton win their play-off semi-final 2-1 on aggregate, booking their place at Wembley and knocking Boro out. Manager Tonda Eckert storms out of press conference when asked if he was a cheat.

15 May: Middlesbrough call for Southampton to be kicked out of play-offs.

19 May: Southampton are expelled from the play-offs for spying, having also admitted to two further instances on spying during the normal campaign, and handed a four-point deduction for next season. Middlesbrough are reinstated into the final.

20 May: Southampton’s appeal is rejected after the club branded the punishment as “manifestly disproportionate”. Saints say vow to respond with “humility”.

21 May: FA launches investigation into Southampton with The Independent revealing Eckert - who authorised the spying scandal - will be pursued for bringing the game into disrepute, which could land him a lengthy ban. Hull’s owner threatens legal action, insisting that his club has a strong case for direct promotion to the Premier League following Southampton’s expulsion.

22 May: A member of the independent commission which expelled Saints from dismisses accusations of bias based on him playing a single match for Middlesbrough 33 years ago as "wholly without foundation".

The club that wanted to know everything seemed to have missed one minor detail in their investigations. More than 12 hours after one of the more explosive announcements in EFL history, the main story on Southampton’s club website still concerned Ross Stewart’s call-up to Scotland’s World Cup squad. And ‘the Loch Ness Drogba’ will indeed be one of the best nicknames in the United States this summer.

Before being thrown out, Southampton were the favourites to beat Hull in Saturday’s play-off final. Promotion could be worth £200m. Even put the morality of their amateurish antics to one side for a moment and this is the £200m cock-up.

Middlesbrough XI: Brynn; Ayling, Malanda, Fry; Brittain, Morris, Hackney, Targett; McGree, Whittaker; Strelec.

Hull XI: Pandur; Hughes, Egan, Ayari; Coyle, Slater, Crooks, Giles; Belloumi, Millar; McBurnie.

There could be mixed news for Middlesbrough with Tommy Conway set to miss this game due to the ankle injury that ended his chances of featuring for Scotland at the World Cup.

Hayden Hackney could be back amongst things, though.

Kyle Joseph will be absent for Hull City after undergoing surgery on the injury sustained against Millwall.

Mohamed Belloumi made an excellent impact after being introduced for his stricken teammate and is a likely starter at Wembley.

Hull vs Middlesbrough is due to be held at Wembley on Saturday 23 May. Kick off has been set for 3.30pm BST, an hour earlier than had been originally scheduled before Southampton’s expulsion.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with coverage from 2.30pm BST. A live stream will be available via Sky Go and NOW.

This meant that despite defeat, Boro were reinstated into the play-offs and after Southampton’s last-minute appeal was rejected, Kim Hellberg’s side now have a chance to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.

Hull, who were left to watch the Spygate scandal unfold with uncertainty of who they would face at Wembley, sealed their place in the final via more conventional methods, beating third-place finishers Millwall to leave them potentially just 90 minutes away from top-flight football.