The Championship play-off final is just over four days away, but the usual drama and excitement surrounding the richest game in club football hasn’t been present this time.

Following the conclusion of the second tier’s 46-game regular season on May 2nd, it was announced that Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Hull City would compete in the traditional two-legged semi-finals prior to the showpiece event at Wembley Stadium, which had been scheduled well in advance for Saturday, May 23rd.

The Tigers, in instance, were not anticipated to make the post-season lottery under Sergej Jakirovic’s guidance after being named relegation favourites last summer, but they were the first to secure their place at Wembley after defeating the Lions 2-0 on aggregate.

Saints, meanwhile, had already been to North London once this season, in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, and it appeared on the pitch that they were about to make their third appearance at the national stadium in two years, defeating Boro 2-1 after extra time in what were two hostile clashes due to initial allegations of the well-documented Spygate saga coming to the fore ahead of the first at the Riverside Stadium on May 9th.

As a result, the aforementioned date, which had been in the works for weeks, was first called into question despite an official declaration from the EFL, while Hull and Southampton have now sold thousands of tickets.

However, following the first verdict of an independent disciplinary commission on Tuesday, another twist has surfaced, with Saints appealing their expulsion and Boro’s reinstatement into the league and, ultimately, the Wembley final.

New twist in Championship play-off final kick-off time emerges as Hull City, Southampton, and Middlesbrough await an appeal decision.

In addition to being kicked out of the play-offs, an EFL statement on Tuesday revealed that Saints will start the 2026/27 season with a four-point deficit after admitting to multiple breaches of unauthorised filming up to 72 hours before matches, the other two coming against Oxford United and Ipswich Town in December and April, respectively.

It has been widely reported, however, that the Hampshire club has filed an appeal against those sanctions, and a brand new three-man commission will oversee the process, which is expected to be completed by the end of play on Wednesday, though the kick-off time for Saturday’s final may change.

Despite Hull and Southampton selling thousands of tickets, Middlesbrough’s statement on the situation stated that tickets would be made available to their fans as soon as possible, and a new kick-off time has been confirmed if Southampton’s appeal is denied.

If Hull face Middlesbrough, the match will begin at 3:30PM, one hour earlier than the previously scheduled kick-off time of 4:30PM if they are still to face Saints.

Hull City may be fairly satisfied with new kick-off times, despite Middlesbrough and Southampton concern.

Even before the kick-off time for a match with Southampton was announced, East Yorkshire residents were sent a travel warning on train and coach travel arrangements for the bank holiday weekend.

Supporters were subsequently spotted venting their concerns on social media, with Jakirovic and Acun Ilicali stating that, in their opinion, the game had to be played this Saturday despite feelings of “collateral damage” to the players’ and supporters’ mindsets.

According to the Athletic, the Bosnian squad is expected to travel south to London on Thursday afternoon after previously prepared to face Southampton in the final, while it was also said that a change in date would prompt the Tigers to seek their own legal advice.

It is a situation that has kept many in the dark, none more so than Hull fans, as the club prepares for only its fifth journey to Wembley.