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The Football League Paper

The Football League Paper is a Sunday newspaper dedicated to the Football League.

We offer extensive, full-colour coverage of all matches from The Championship, League One and League Two every week.

04/06/2026

🚶‍♂️ On the go? Then we’ve got your football fix.

🎧 Catch the latest The FLP Podcast, now available across audio platforms.

Matt Badcock is joined by Football League Paper Editor John Lyons and Chief Writer Chris Dunlavy to discuss the latest talking points from across the EFL.

🏟️ This week, the trio reflects on Wembley success for Hull City, Bolton Wanderers Official and Notts County Football Club after a dramatic conclusion to the play-offs.

🕵️ They also delve into the latest developments in the ongoing ‘Spygate’ saga and assess the fallout from a controversy that has dominated headlines.

🎩 Plus, the team discuss David Challinor’s departure from Stockport County and what it could mean for the Hatters going forward.

Listen on Spotify 👇
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1WmxpU0D2YmYJfte6BmBLK

Also available on Apple Podcasts 👇
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-flp-podcast-hull-bolton-notts-county-enjoy/id1896797609?i=1000770788424

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02/06/2026

🚨 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐏 𝐏𝐎𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 🚨

🏟️ Hull, Bolton & Notts County enjoy Wembley success
🕵️ ‘Spygate’ saga rolls on
🎩 David Challinor leaves Stockport

🎙️ In this week’s edition of The Football League Paper Podcast, Matt Badcock is joined by Football League Paper Chief Writer Chris Dunlavy and John Lyons, Football League Paper Editor, to talk through all the latest in the .

The trio reflect on a dramatic week of play-off final action across the EFL, as Hull City secured promotion to the with a late winner against Middlesbrough, while Bolton Wanderers Official and Notts County Football Club enjoyed their own Wembley success to book their spot in the and , respectively.

The ‘Spygate’ saga continues to develop as Southampton owner Dragan Solak has thrown his support behind manager Tonda Eckert, despite the controversy surrounding their dismissal from the play-off final.

Eckert also released a public apology to Southampton fans, in which he took full responsibility for the scandal.

Following their play-off final defeat to Bolton, Stockport County manager David Challinor has stepped away from his role after five years in charge at the Hatters.

Finally, the guys take a look at the relegated sides returning to the EFL, namely West Ham United, who announced that they are continuing with manager Nuno Espirito Santo for the upcoming 2026/27 Championship campaign...

WATCH 👇

02/06/2026

🏆 Lincoln City Football Club had one of the best seasons in the club’s history in the campaign just gone as the Imps won the title in convincing fashion.

They will now be playing in the for the first time since the 1960s.

Michael Skubala’s side accumulated 103 points across an impressive season before the 43-year-old departed for second tier rivals Bristol City.

The Imps beat the likes of Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers to the title – with their campaign including a 29-game unbeaten run and an unbeaten streak in the league since November of last year...

✍️ Rob Beezley looks at the key factors that could keep the Imps in the second tier.

02/06/2026

😇 🙏 Southampton boss Tonda Eckert has apologised for orchestrating the ‘Spygate’ scandal and admitted he is responsible for “everything that has happened” shortly after receiving the backing of club owner Dragan Solak.

Saints were thrown out of the Championship play-offs last month after admitting sending a young intern to spy on a Middlesbrough training session.

The EFL said the south-coast club were found guilty of a “deplorable” act of putting pressure on the junior member of staff to spy on Boro.

In a damning verdict, the governing body said Southampton boss Eckert authorised the spying.

The League Arbitration Panel’s written reasons for rejecting Southampton’s appeal against their expulsion were also published on Monday.

In one WhatsApp exchange, an analyst messaged an intern saying: “You legend. Manager loved it...

⤵️ Full story

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25/05/2026

🪄 🏟️ It was the Jodi Jones show at Wembley as the winger inspired Notts County Football Club to a cruising League Two Play-Off final victory over Salford City.

The 28-year-old played a starring role in all three goals, sending Martin Paterson’s side back to the third tier after an 11 year absence.

All this was in front of Salford boss Karl Robinson, the manager who let him leave Oxford United for Notts County, originally on loan back in 2022.

On another sweltering day at Wembley, County punished the Ammies with a handful of quality moments, the first of which came on the half hour mark.

After a relatively tepid opening, Jones unleashed an extraordinary angled ball from deep inside his own half to set Alassana Jatta clean through on goal.

The Gambian international steadied himself before firing a fierce effort across keeper Matt Young and into the bottom left-hand corner...

⤵️ Full report

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25/05/2026

🔥🆙 Bolton Wanderers Official made a sensational return to the Championship, after a second half blitz saw them dispatch of Stockport County in a pulsating Manchester Derby at Wembley.

After going into the break level at 1-1, Steven Schumacher’s Wanderers found an extra gear to blow County away with three unanswered goals.

Bolton now find themselves back in the second tier, seven years on from suffering relegation.

In contrast to yesterday’s Championship final, the game started at full throttle with Bolton taking the lead less than three minutes in...

⤵️ Full report

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24/05/2026

🐯 🏟️ Hull City won promotion to the Premier League in the most dramatic of ways, as Oli McBurnie smashed home an injury time winner against Middlesbrough under the Wembley Arch to send the Tigers back to the top flight after nine years away.

The game looked destined for extra-time as both sides huffed and puffed through eight minutes of injury time in the sapping summer heat.

However, in one final roll of the dice, substitute Yu Hirakawa broke on the right flank for City, sending in a driven cross which was flapped at by Middlesbrough keeper Sol Brynn.

Suddenly, the ball fell at the feet of McBurnie, who simply couldn’t miss.

It capped a truly remarkable 12-month transformation for Hull, who last season only survived relegation by the skin of their teeth, staying up on goal difference on the final day...

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22/05/2026

🕵️ Southampton were found guilty of a “deplorable” act of putting pressure on a junior member of staff to spy on Middlesbrough, the EFL has said.

Saints are now under investigation by the Football Association in relation to the ‘Spygate’ scandal which cost them their place in the Championship play-off final.

The EFL has published its written reasons for expelling the club from the play-offs and docking them four points next season.

In a damning verdict, the governing body said Southampton manager Tonda Eckert authorised the spying...

⤵️ Full story

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22/05/2026

ICYMI 👀

🔎 Southampton are now under investigation by the Football Association in relation to the ‘Spygate’ scandal.

The FA is reviewing whether to bring charges after an EFL independent disciplinary commission expelled Saints from the Championship play-offs and docked them four points for next season.

An FA spokesperson said: “We will now investigate and won’t comment further until we have assessed the evidence.”

Southampton admitted to spying on a training session held by play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough earlier this month, as well as one held by Oxford United in December and an Ipswich Town session in April.

All three instances occurred following the appointment of Tonda Eckert as head coach in early December.

The commission dismissed the club’s appeal against the sanction on Wednesday night. As a result, Boro now replaces Saints in Saturday’s play-off final against Hull City...

⤵️ Full story

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22/05/2026

🚨 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐏 𝐏𝐎𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 🚨

🕵️ Southampton kicked out over spying scandal
🏟️ Middlesbrough vs Hull at Wembley
🏆 League One & Two finals preview

🎙️ In this week’s edition of The Football League Paper Podcast, Matt Badcock is joined by Football League Paper Chief Writer Chris Dunlavy and John Lyons, Football League Paper Editor, to talk through all the latest in the .

The trio delve into the big news of the week, which saw Southampton expelled from the play-off final over the spying scandal which has dominated the days leading up to the ‘richest game in football’.

Hull City will instead face the newly-reinstated Middlesbrough FC in the final, and we look ahead to that game, plus the and play-off finals also taking place at Wembley over the bank holiday weekend...

WATCH 👇

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