Southampton owner Dragan Solak has confirmed that he will not sack manager Tonda Eckert, despite the German coach's deep involvement in the Spygate controversy that led to the club's expulsion from the Championship play-offs. The Saints were thrown out of the postseason last month after admitting to spying on three clubs' training sessions during the season, including semi-final opponents Middlesbrough.
An independent disciplinary commission found that Eckert accepted responsibility for what was described as a 'contrived and determined plan from the top down'. Junior staff tasked with opposition analysis felt 'pressurised to do the observations that Mr Eckert and the senior coaches wished them to do', even though they believed spying was morally wrong, the panel added.
However, Solak told BBC Sport that the 33-year-old manager, who could still face an FA ban, 'deserves a second chance'. He stated: 'My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he's a super-talented manager. 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 emphasised that the final decision rests with him, but he will seek advice from the team, players, and fans. 'Yes, if it's ultimately my decision, he stays,' he added.
Southampton appealed their punishment, which also included a four-point deduction for next season, but the appeal was rejected. The League Arbitration Panel's 39-page written reasons, published on Monday, revealed that Eckert was 'surprised' to learn that EFL regulations prohibited spying. Solak noted that in Italy or Germany, where Eckert previously worked, such practices are 'common practice that nobody cares about'.
Despite his support, Solak issued a warning to Eckert, who was appointed in December and led Southampton to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they narrowly lost to Manchester City. '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,'' Solak said. 'I truly hope that he will learn from this experience and he will achieve an incredible career.'
