Spygate: Southampton's Championship play-off final fate to be determined as date set for independent hearing

The independent hearing to determine Southampton's Championship play-off final fate will take place on or before Tuesday May 19 - but the date of the Wembley game four days later could be changed.

That independent commission will now meet four days before the Championship play-off final at the very latest to determine what will happen to the Saints - who are set to meet Hull City at Wembley on Saturday May 23, with the kick-off now confirmed at 4.30pm.

However, the EFL has confirmed that contingency plans for a change to the final proceedings are in place "should they be required" - including if an appeal process to the hearing takes place.

The exact date and time of the initial independent hearing is yet to be determined.

In a statement, the EFL said: "As the proceedings are being conducted by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL does not control the proposed timetable.

"Notwithstanding this, the EFL continues to plan on the basis that the Championship play-off final will take place as scheduled on Saturday May 23, with the kick-off time confirmed as 4.30pm.

"Supporters should, however, be aware that the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings may yet result in changes to the fixture. The EFL has a number of contingency plans should they be required, which also includes consideration of any appeal process, if required."

It is possible Southampton could be thrown out of the Championship play-offs and denied the chance of promotion to the Premier League, if an independent commission upholds the charge they spied on a Middlesbrough training session in the build-up to their play-off semi-final.