The last 7 weeks or so have been traumatic for Saints, it started with the revelation of Spygate & subsequent events and of course the speculation afterwards, it seems like we have not have a break, but the start of July is when the new season truly begins.

This week is big for Championship clubs, with the season due to begin in 6 weeks time against Colchester United in the Carabao Cup, most squads will be returning for pre season training.

But perhaps the biggest day of the week will be on Wednesday, as that is the day that the transfer window truly opens and we find out which rumours have some substance.

The transfer of Shea Charles to Leeds United appears to have some truth in it, with reports suggesting that Southampton have already turned down two bids for the player, the first being £20 million and the second £25 million, Saints price seems to be £30 million, although some reports suggest his release clause is set at £25 million.

The arrival of Crystal Palace on the scene, might up the ante.

As I remind everyone in this week each year, this is the week that the players get their loyalty bonus and for some loyalty goes out the window.

The bulk of the squad will return from their summer break, Cyle Larin will be missing as he will still be with Canada who progressed to the last 16 last night after their late win over South Africa.

Also missing will be Ross Stewart who got in his disloyalty early, his agent finding a loophole in his contract, meaning Saints could not evoke his year extension due to the final game of the season now being cancelled, he claimed it was now back dated.

I have the feeling that this one is not over yet, certainly Stewart's profile hasn't risen, his 1 minute cameo in a poor Scotland squad in the World Cup, won't have increased his admirers.

So could Stewart come running back to Saints, finding that the grass elsewhere isn't any greener, I wouldn't bet against it, however I think that the club are not too bothered at losing him, I think that they feel that they have better targets elsewhere.

But there will be positives this week, we ourselves are linked with various players, not least Sunderland's out of contract Dan Neil.

But the phoney war is now over, the summer break ends, bonus's are paid and players are now ready to move after pocketing them.

The events back in May almost seem like a bad dream, but what's done is done, time to put it in the cupboard where it belongs, those that say it is the most shameful period in our history either have short memories or haven't been supporting the club very long, the incident in Norjkppping in 1982 or the Bob Higgins revelations in the late 80's early 90's are certainly two issues that are best forgotten.

All clubs have their skeletons in their cupboards, we are far from winning the title of biggest cheats in the top two divisions of English football, we have to take the stick this season, laugh it off and move on.

As Voltaire once said "God Is on the side of the big Battalions", he wasn't referring to football clubs, but his quote could well be changed in modern football to read " God is on the side of the Big Club's Big Battalions of lawyers"

So lets move on and go out this season and show both on and off the field that if we had played in the Play Off Final at Wembley, then we would now be in the Premier League, where ironically we could have spyed to our hearts content as it isn't illegal there.

All Photos Via Reuters