Southampton coach says sorry over spying controversy

Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert said sorry on Tuesday for the spying scandal. He admitted he is responsible for everything that happened.

The Saints were kicked out of the Championship play-offs last month after they confessed to sending a young intern to watch a Middlesbrough training session.

The English Football League called the act “deplorable.” They found the club guilty of putting pressure on a junior staff member to spy on Boro.

In a serious statement, the league said Southampton boss Eckert allowed the spying. The 33-year-old German coach then released a long video on the club’s media, saying: “I will try to be as honest and clear as I can be.

“For everything that has happened, I do want to apologise and I hold my hand up because as head coach I am responsible. I am responsible for everything that has happened at this football club.”

Southampton owner Dragan Solak said he supports Eckert. The Serbian businessman admitted that Eckert made a “mistake,” but insisted it should not cost a “super-talented manager” his job.

Solak told the BBC: “I have to believe, honestly, and I believe Tonda, that he didn’t know it was the rule that he was breaking.” He added, “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.

“I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him. My first support would be behind him, actually, because I think he is a super-talented manager.”

Southampton will also lose four points next season after admitting to breaking rules about the unauthorized filming of other clubs’ training sessions.

Eckert is not completely safe yet as the Football Association (FA) is looking into the matter and could still charge him. If found guilty, he may face a ban.

Solak believes that Eckert is facing “a witch-hunt” and that the club has been “over-sentenced.”

“My support comes from a very simple legal situation where there is no double jeopardy,” Solak said. “Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once.”

Middlesbrough, who lost to Southampton in the play-off semi-finals, were brought back for the final at Wembley on May 23. They were beaten by Hull, who will join Coventry and Ipswich in the Premier League next year.