Southampton Owner Backs Eckert After Spygate Play-off Expulsion

Southampton owner Dragan Solak is keeping faith with head coach Tonda Eckert, despite the Spygate scandal, the club’s removal from the Championship play-offs and a continuing Football Association investigation into the case and Eckert’s role in the illegal observation of opponents’ training sessions.

Solak stressed that Eckert’s position is secure for now, even after Southampton’s heavy sanctions and financial setback. The owner underlined that any future decision would also consider feedback from players and supporters, while the club waits to learn whether the FA will impose a suspension.

Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs after the Football League charged the club with recording training sessions held by Middlesbrough,

Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the season, with the incident widely referred to as the Southampton Spygate scandal.

The EFL ruling meant Southampton lost their place in the play-off final against Hull City, which Middlesbrough contested instead. Middlesbrough, who had been beaten by Southampton in the semi-finals, lost that final 1-0 after a late goal from Oli McBurnie at Wembley Stadium.

Alongside the play-off expulsion linked to the Southampton Spygate case, the EFL deducted four points from Southampton’s 2026-27 Championship campaign. The club’s appeal did not change that punishment, which Solak believes also affected potential earnings of around 200m from possible promotion.

Solak expressed frustration at the overall scale of the Southampton Spygate penalties, but still underlined that any FA ban for Eckert would have to be respected. The owner confirmed that a suspension would prevent Eckert from working as head coach during that period, regardless of personal support.

Southampton Spygate stance from Solak on Eckert

Explaining why Eckert remains in post after the Southampton Spygate controversy, Solak told supporters that he trusts the coach’s character and intentions, while also insisting that Eckert must now show full knowledge of competition rules and avoid any repeat of the breach.

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

"I told him: 'You almost broke my heart. You do it again, you'll kill me. 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'. We can't have another mistake. I truly hope that he will learn from this experience and he will achieve an incredible career. "

Solak also commented on how any FA decision might interact with the earlier EFL action related to the Southampton Spygate affair, and suggested the club could challenge further measures if they felt the total punishment went beyond what was fair for the offence.

"Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once. I think we were 'over-sentenced'. The punishment the club received was severe and completely disproportionate to the mistake we made. We lost our chance to win 200m. If they're going to go again and then double that with aban, we might appeal. He will have my support through the process. But if he's banned, he's banned. I mean, I can't put somebody there to manage the club if he is not allowed. "

Southampton Spygate case details and allegations

The Southampton Spygate case began when Middlesbrough alleged that their pre-match training before the semi-final had been filmed without permission. The EFL investigation then expanded, concluding that Southampton staff had also recorded sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier that same campaign.

Those findings led directly to Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs and the four-point deduction. The FA opened its own inquiry into Eckert’s conduct, creating further uncertainty about the coach’s availability for the start of the 2026-27 season, even as Solak publicly backed Eckert.

Key disciplinary measures arising from the Southampton Spygate case are summarised below.

Southampton Spygate action	Decision	Impact
Play-off involvement	Southampton expelled	Middlesbrough replaced Southampton in final vs Hull City
League sanction	Four-point deduction	Applied to Southampton’s 2026-27 Championship season
Financial effect	Loss of promotion chance	Solak cites missed 200m opportunity

A public message from Eckert about the Southampton Spygate affair was also shared through the club’s official account, as Southampton tried to address supporters’ concerns and outline the coach’s acceptance of responsibility for what happened during the season.

A personal message from Head Coach, Tonda Eckert. pic.twitter.com/dHlDdF6XFdSouthampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) June 2, 2026

Southampton Spygate response from Eckert

Eckert accepted personal responsibility for the Southampton Spygate scandal and apologised to the clubs involved, while explaining that monitoring rival preparations is more common in some European leagues, based on experience as an assistant with Genoa in Italian football.

"For everything that's happened, I do want to apologise, and I hold my hands up because, as a head coach, I am responsible," the former Genoa assistant said. "I apologise to all the clubs that have been involved. When I worked in Italy for over four years, every starting lineup that we chose was always out in the media before games. I don't say this to excuse anything that we have done. I just want to give you context. I am a young coach, I have made a mistake and I take full responsibility. "

Southampton now move towards the 2026-27 season under the shadow of the Southampton Spygate punishments, with Eckert remaining in charge for the moment, backed by Solak but facing the possibility of an FA ban that could yet change the club’s plans on the touchline.