Eckert says 'Spygate' image is inaccurate as he remains in charge at Southampton

Tonda Eckert, Southampton head coach, said at a BBC Radio Solent fans' forum on 7 August 2026 that the public image created by the 'Spygate' scandal was far from the truth and that he was grateful to have kept his job while taking pre-season training with the club.

Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May despite beating Middlesbrough in the semi-finals after being found guilty of spying on Boro while they were training; the club was also found to have spied on rivals on two other occasions. Eckert is currently awaiting the result of a Football Association investigation after being charged with misconduct for his role in the affair.

Eckert criticised sections of the media for their coverage and thanked owner Dragan Solak for standing by him. Solak had said in June he would not sack Eckert and was pictured in Germany with the squad during a pre-season training camp at the end of last month. "It means a lot that the owner wasn't swayed by public opinion but looked at what actually happened. He [Solak] has taken his decision and I am very grateful for that," Eckert said.

The German accused parts of the media of exaggerating the story and defended his decision to stay out of many interviews. "There has been a lot out in the media and I haven't done a lot of interviews," he said. "There has been an image created that I think is very far away from the truth. If you have a chance to look behind the curtain, the image looks very different."

Eckert also acknowledged the owner's authority over staffing decisions during the forum, saying: "The owner has the right to take consequences," and adding, "At that time it would have been right for me to accept they would go in a different direction."

He remains in his post as Southampton continue pre-season preparations and is awaiting the Football Association's verdict on the misconduct charge in relation to the Spygate matter.