Kit Shepard

👀 Hide in plain sight 📖 Have a cover story ❌ Don't run away 📹 Get the right equipment Memo to Southampton: here’s what real spies would have done @TimesSport thetimes.com/sport/football…

Memo to Southampton: here’s what real spies would have done ‘Spygate’ scandal in Championship play-offs has caused controversy, so we asked surveillance experts how they would snoop — and what can be done to prevent it By @Kit_Shepard ⬇️ #Echobox=1778787265" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">thetimes.com/sport/football…

@SimonPeach Totally fair - and there is certainly a comical element to the saga amid all the seriousness…

@Kit_Shepard Neither do I. Felt numb going to St Mary’s on Tuesday & deeply uncomfortable about it all ever since the news came out. But I’ve also relied on humour as a coping mechanism

Opinions are clearly divided over Spygate. FWIW I think Southampton’s behaviour over this has been extremely poor. With some notable exceptions - like @Kit_Shepard in the Times of London - the club and its fans seem to have been quite belligerent. Like they don’t understand.

🚨 Katie McCabe will leave Arsenal at the end of the season, the club confirm. McCabe has spent over a decade in north London and will leave as an Arsenal great #BarclaysWSL

@SimonPeach Broadly agree! But I don’t think feeling uncomfortable about mocking the allegations is pearl-clutching

@Kit_Shepard @Nick_Metcalfe I’d argue both last season and spygate scream incompetence, plus I’ve long learned if you don’t laugh about Southampton you’ll cry

@SimonPeach @Nick_Metcalfe I’d just say there’s a difference between gallows humour about how terrible Saints were last season, and gallows humour about accusations of blatant rule-breaking. Fine to mock incompetency, less fine to mock potential cheating.

@Nick_Metcalfe @Kit_Shepard I think you’re completely wrong about the supporters being belligerent. It’s a group of fans used to being embarrassed - see last season - so some naturally resort to gallows humour & others defiantly hope it can’t get any worse than last year (enter Mick McCarthy meme…)

🚨 Sam Kerr will leave Chelsea this summer, when her contract expires, the club confirm. The end of a legendary Chelsea career. #BarclaysWSL

@Saintsmadmomma As much as I wish I wasn't, I was born in the same decade as the collapse of the Soviet Union. *That headshot is three years old but yes I still get ID'd

@Kit_Shepard @TimesSport 20 years? You only look 12, which would explain why this is your lowest moment 🤣

"Spygate" is my lowest moment in 20+ years supporting Southampton. The lack of clarity is troubling. Accusations of blatant cheating have been belittled. A lovely season feels tainted. This all creates apathy, and that's worse than losing. @TimesSport thetimes.com/sport/football…

@RustyRidesRough Me too, administration and -10 points was rubbish. But I still found it easier to support the team then than I do right now. Also, League One wasn't all but. The JPT win, MK Dons comeback, Fonte at The Withdean? Great days

@Kit_Shepard @TimesSport Ehhh. I was around for our drop to League 1. That was pretty grim lol

@SaintsSixers I found it easier to support the team then, even if the club was poorly run. Obviously choosing between two unappealing scenarios here

@Kit_Shepard @TimesSport Spygate is your lowest moment in 20 years supporting us? We almost went down under in league one ffs get a fucking grip

@abushe7 Fair enough, you’re allowed to disagree! As I mention in the article, last night’s atmosphere at St Mary’s suggests plenty of Saints fans would take your POV over mine. Thank you for reading 👍

@Kit_Shepard @TimesSport So the Times’ agenda against Saints gathers further momentum. With all due respect Kit, I am not sure your article, which I have read on the app, merits publishing in a national newspaper/website. I didn’t see much ‘apathy’ at St Mary’s last night

@KathrynBatte @jessyjph x.com/kit_shepard/st…

@jessyjph @Kit_Shepard Sady Kit is in Oslo, backing out of the pre-match scrap. I’ll bring my binoculars 🕵🏼‍♀️

The women's football press pack play-off final. @KathrynBatte @Kit_Shepard I WILL be seated

James Maddison on the “dark days” he had to navigate before returning to action for Tottenham last night… 😑 Mental toil of rehab ☯️ Why Spurs’ good moments have been challenging 💪 How he can help the survival fight on and off the pitch @TimesSport thetimes.com/sport/football…

🚨 Beth Mead to leave Arsenal this summer. Manchester City are keen to sign her on a free. Arsenal were open to Mead staying, but it's believed terms like playing role and contract length couldn't be agreed. She's had a superb Arsenal career. @TimesSport thetimes.com/sport/football…

The ending to the week of Bunny Shaw was dramatic, fitting, and only makes it more confounding that Manchester City will not keep her beyond this season. Report from Stamford Bridge as City come back against Chelsea to reach the FA Cup final @TimesSport thetimes.com/sport/football…

⚽ Is selling women’s team cynical financial ploy or bid to transform the sport? @Kit_Shepard reports on the trend some claim brings vital independence, attracts investment and grows the game ⬇️ #Echobox=1778340811" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">thetimes.com/sport/football…

From Chelsea to Sunderland, several English clubs have sold their women’s team in the past year. A cynical economic ploy, or women’s football’s path to prosperity/sustainability? @TimesSport assesses, with insight from clubs and football finance experts…thetimes.com/sport/football…

Bruno Fernandes and Bunny Shaw crowned footballers of the year — here's why ✍️ @HKhaliqueLoonat | @Kit_Shepard #Echobox=1778278992" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">thetimes.com/sport/football…

Bunny Shaw is the FWA footballer of the year again. She is a generational striker. So why are Manchester City not doing whatever it takes to stop her leaving? Because paying what Chelsea would demands a transformation in City’s strategy. @TimesSport thetimes.com/sport/football…