Southampton Owner Vows to Retain Manager Eckert Despite Spying Scandal

Southampton owner Dragan Solak has confirmed he will not dismiss head coach Tonda Eckert, despite the German manager’s involvement in a controversial espionage campaign targeting rival Championship sides. Speaking exclusively to BBC Sport, the Serbian businessman stated, "I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him," adding that the club’s leadership stands firmly behind the 33-year-old, whom he described as a "super-talented manager."

Eckert, who initially served as caretaker boss before securing the permanent role in December, guided Southampton away from relegation and secured a fourth-place finish, earning a spot in the promotion play-offs. However, the club’s ambitions were halted after they were expelled from the tournament. The Saints admitted to observing the training sessions of opponents, resulting in a four-point deduction for the 2026-27 season. An independent disciplinary commission ruled that Eckert had orchestrated a "contrived and determined plan from the top down."

Further details emerged from the written reasons of an arbitration panel reviewing Southampton’s appeal, revealing that a junior staff member claimed Eckert’s directives placed them "under extreme pressure" to perform tasks they found morally objectionable. Eckert reportedly expressed surprise that such activities violated EFL regulations.

Solak, whose media company took a majority stake in the club in 2022, defended his manager’s intentions. "I believe Tonda that he didn't know that it was the rule that he was breaking," Solak explained. He noted that while he seeks counsel from the board, players, and fans, his final decision is to keep Eckert. The owner also contextualized the behavior by noting, "In Italy or in Germany, where Tonda was working, this is basically common practice that nobody cares about."

Despite his support, Solak issued a stern warning to his manager. "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. Because, we can't have another mistake.'" He expressed hope that Eckert would learn from the incident and achieve great success in his career.

The Football Association is currently investigating the scandal and may bring charges against Eckert individually. Southampton had admitted to spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season, as well as Middlesbrough prior to the play-off semi-final. When asked if he would support Eckert if a ban were imposed, Solak clarified the legal distinctions. "I can support him even if he's banned, but I can't make him manage if he's banned," he said, citing the principle of double jeopardy. "Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once."

Solak criticized the severity of the club’s punishment, stating, "I think we were 'over-sentenced'. The punishment that the club received was severe and completely disproportionate to the mistake that we made. We lost our chance to win £200m." He suggested that if the FA were to impose an additional ban, the club might appeal, though he acknowledged he could not employ a banned individual.

"I'm looking at him as a young, extremely talented manager - the guy who took our club when we were 21st in the table and brought us almost to direct promotion," Solak said, expressing admiration for Eckert’s willingness to return to the club amidst what he termed a "hostile environment" and a "witch hunt" in the media. He predicted that if banned by the FA, Eckert would likely secure a significantly better-paid position in Italy or Germany.

Source: BBC News Generated at: 2026-06-02 05:59:23 UTC