Southampton coach Eckert takes blame for ‘spygate’

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Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert issued an apology on Tuesday for orchestrating the “spygate” scandal, admitting he is responsible for “everything that has happened”.

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Saints were thrown out of the Championship play-offs last month after admitting sending a young intern to spy on a Middlesbrough training session.

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The English Football League said the south-coast club were found guilty of a “deplorable” act of putting pressure on the junior member of staff to spy on Boro.

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In a damning verdict, the governing body said Southampton boss Eckert authorised the spying.

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The German, 33, has now put out a lengthy video statement on club media, which began: “I will try to be as honest and clear as I can be.

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

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“I am responsible for everything that has happened at this football club.”

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Southampton owner Dragan Solak said he was standing by Eckert.

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The Serbian media mogul admitted Eckert had made a “mistake”, but was adamant it should not cost a “super-talented manager” his job.

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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.”

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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.

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“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.”

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Southampton will also be docked four points next season after admitting to multiple breaches of regulations related to the “unauthorised filming of other clubs’ training” sessions.

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Eckert is not yet totally out of the woods as the Football Association (FA) has launched a probe into the affair and could still charge him — meaning he may face a ban if found guilty.

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Solak, though, believes that Eckert has been subjected to “a witch-hunt” and the club has been “over-sentenced”.

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“My support comes from a very simple legal situation where there is no double jeopardy,” said Solak.

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“Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once.”

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

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