The Times newspaper have obtained the collective letter from 11 Championship sides to the Football League in a new twist to the Leeds United spy scandal.
Officials have signed off on a statement demanding the times, dates and reports of every reconnaissance mission carried out by Leeds, along with the identity of the “spy” in each case and the amount of any payments that were made.
The Times, who publish the letter in full in their Thursday edition, report the 11 clubs do not call for any sanction but say they want “full disclosure” of all material produced by Leeds, including emails, letters and video footage.
OPINION
First, the good news for Leeds. The Times, who have been on top of the developments in the story that has caused such a storm over the last fortnight, claim a points deduction is not likely and “it looks probable that the sanction will be a heavy fine”. Given the kind of detail the 11 clubs, led by Leeds’ automatic promotion rivals Norwich City, are seeking after Marcelo Bielsa admitted spying on the training sessions of all his side’s opponents, that is a relief. Certainly, the lawyer-written letter demonstrates how seriously half the Championship is taking Bielsa’s conduct. The letter claims that Leeds have breached a Football League regulation for clubs to behave with “utmost good faith” towards each other. That is hard to dispute, even if you are a White. Certainly, Bielsa has been the author of his own misfortune with his revelation about how far he had gone in spying, but a fine would be a correct punishment, and then a line can be drawn under ‘Spygate’.