Winger Leo Scienza admitted Southampton’s expulsion from the Championship play-offs for spying offences was “heartbreaking” and that the club’s fans “definitely deserved better”.
Middlesbrough will play Hull in Saturday’s final at Wembley after Saints lost their appeal against sanctions imposed for ‘Spygate’.
Southampton admitted three spying charges, including observing a Boro training session ahead of winning 2-1 on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.
The Hampshire club were also docked four points for next season.
Saints player of the year Scienza posted on Instagram: “Disappointment, anger, sadness…It’s difficult to find the right words for what we’re all feeling right now.
“What has happened over the last days is heartbreaking..for the club, for every player in this dressing room, and above all for our supporters. A moment like this should never end the way it did.”
Middlesbrough, who lost 2-1 after extra-time at St Mary’s – having drawn 0-0 at the Riverside Stadium – were reinstated on Tuesday following the findings of an independent commission.
Saints’ appeal was dismissed on Wednesday, denying them the chance of a shot at promotion to the Premier League worth an estimated £200million at a minimum.
“I feel sorry for every football fan, as well as the players and supporters of Hull and Boro, who were caught up in all of this chaos too,” Brazilian Scienza, who registered seven goals and 10 assists in 44 appearances, added.
“We gave everything for this dream. Day after day, sacrifice after sacrifice, always believing we could bring this club back to where it belongs.
“For me, the dream of playing in the Premier League was something I fought for with everything I had. That’s why this pain cuts so deep.
“The hardest part is knowing how much our fans deserved this moment. You stood behind us all season with incredible passion, loyalty and belief. Even in the toughest moments, you carried us forward.
“Thank you for staying with us through everything, you definitely deserved better.”
Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons described the punishment as “manifestly disproportionate” to any other sanction handed down in the history of the English game.
Saints had sold more than 37,000 tickets for the play-off final.
Southampton great Matt Le Tissier urged the club to “focus on restoring our reputation” and said there is “a lot of work to be done”.
