SOCCER: Southampton owner won't sack manager Eckert despite his role in 'Spygate'

Southampton owner Dragan Solak has confirmed he will not fire manager Tonda Eckert despite his involvement in the "Spygate" scandal, which saw the club disqualified from last month’s Championship playoff final.

Southampton was expelled from the final—widely regarded as the richest game in football due to the massive Premier League revenues awaiting the winner—after acknowledging that staff members had observed opponents' training sessions within 72 hours of matches.

An Independent Disciplinary Commission revealed that Eckert admitted to signing off on the espionage plan. However, Solak is standing firmly behind his manager.

"I think he deserves a second chance, and I would give it to him. My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he's a super-talented manager," Solak said in an interview with the BBC published on Tuesday.

"I believe Tonda that he didn't know that it was the rule that he was breaking. My personal opinion, and the opinion of the board, is that he is a manager who deserves to be backed by us and to be supported by us."

Solak noted that while he intends to consult with the broader club community, the final call rests with him. "I will obviously seek advice from the team. I will seek advice from the players, from the fans. But yes, if it's ultimately my decision, he stays."

Eckert Issues Apology

Eckert issued a formal apology on Tuesday via a video posted to Southampton's social media channels. He explained that observing rival training sessions was common practice in the other leagues where he had previously managed.

"There are different rules from the EFL, and I should have known them... I am a young coach," Eckert said. "I have made a mistake, and I take full responsibility."

A Final Warning

Solak, the Serbian billionaire who purchased Southampton in 2022, made it clear that while Eckert retains his job, he is on thin ice. The owner delivered a blunt warning regarding the manager's future conduct.

"I told him: 'You almost broke my heart. You do it again, you'll kill me,'" Solak added. "'The next time I see you in July, if you don't know the EFL book of rules by heart, you can't work for me. Because we can't have another mistake.'" -Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters