Image of Spygate 'far from truth' says Eckert

What the report says

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert has said he is grateful to remain in post after the club’s “Spygate” scandal, while arguing that the public picture of the episode is not the same as what actually happened. The comments were made in a fans’ forum hosted by BBC Radio Solent and reported by BBC Sport Football.

Southampton were previously expelled from the Championship play-offs after being found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough during their training sessions. The club was also found to have carried out spying on two other occasions. Eckert is still waiting for the Football Association’s decision after being charged with misconduct over his role in the matter.

Eckert said the owner, Dragan Solak, was entitled to consider changing direction at the time, but praised him for not being influenced by outside reaction. Solak said in June that he would not dismiss Eckert, and was later pictured with the squad at a pre-season camp in Germany. Eckert said it meant a lot that Solak backed him and that he was “grateful” for that support.

The case remains significant because it sits at the centre of wider scrutiny over Southampton’s conduct and Eckert’s future. In general terms, football clubs often face separate internal and governing-body processes when misconduct allegations arise, but BBC Sport says Eckert’s FA outcome is still pending.