Remarkable U-turn for Newcastle United defender confirmed ahead of summer departure
Spygate: Newcastle United defender Matt Targett could still be promoted to the Premier League with Middlesbrough.
Matt Targett’s remarkable loan spell at Middlesbrough continues despite his season seemingly being over last week.
Boro narrowly missed out on automatic promotion and had to settle for a place in the Championship play-offs. There they came up against Southampton, losing the semi-final tie over two legs earlier this month.
From there, you’d expect that would have brought Middlesbrough’s season and Targett’s loan spell to an end. But the left-back continued training at Rockcliffe, the location that has ultimately kept their season alive.
Despite losing on the pitch, Middlesbrough were reinstated to the Championship play-offs in Southampton’s place after the Saints were found guilty of multiple breaches of EFL Regulations and expelled them from competing in the final against Hull City. Not very saint-like at all.
Southampton have also been handed a four-point deduction that will be applied at the start of next season.
Middlesbrough will now take Southampton’s place and compete against Hull at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
NUFC loanee boost ahead of summer departure
Targett is set to take part in the Championship play-off final this weekend but faces an uncertain future, particularly if Boro were to miss out on promotion.
The 30-year-old’s contract at Newcastle is set to expire next month and he will not be handed a new deal.
Assessing his future, Targett said: “The future? I’m not sure to be honest. I believe I’m done at Newcastle so that chapter is closed.
“Hopefully we get promoted here [at Boro] and there will be a contract for me…but if not I’ve played as much as I can this season, so I’ll assess my options.”
EFL statement
An EFL statement read: “An Independent Disciplinary Commission has today expelled Southampton from the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs after the Club admitted to multiple breaches of EFL Regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other Clubs’ training.
“In addition, the Club has received a four-point deduction that will be applied to the 2026/27 Championship table, alongside a reprimand in respect of all the charges.