News Focus
- Southampton owner Dragan Solak refuses to dismiss head coach Tonda Eckert over the spying affair.
- The club lost their play-off spot and received a four-point deduction for observing rivals’ training sessions.
- Eckert claims he did not know that spying broke English Football League rules.
- The Football Association is still investigating and could ban the German manager.
- Some players are considering legal action after losing promotion bonuses worth millions.
Dragan Solak, the Serbian owner of Southampton, has given his full support to head coach Tonda Eckert. He says he will not sack the manager despite the recent scandal involving secret spying on rival clubs.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Solak said the 33-year-old German deserves another opportunity. “He is a manager with great talent,” the businessman stated. “My support is with him completely.”
The controversy began when the club admitted to watching training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough. An independent panel found that Eckert had planned the operation from the top. As punishment, the EFL expelled Southampton from the promotion play-offs. They also deducted four points for the 2026-27 season.
Eckert took charge in December when the team faced relegation. He saved them from the drop and guided them to fourth place. This success earned them a play-off spot before the scandal emerged.
The coach told investigators he was “surprised” that EFL rules forbid spying. Solak believes him. “I do not think he knew he was breaking a rule,” he said. “In Italy and Germany, where he worked before, this is normal practice.”
However, the owner has warned Eckert strictly. “You almost broke my heart,” Solak told him. “If you do not know the EFL rule book by heart when I see you in July, you cannot work for me. We cannot make another mistake.”
The scandal has caused anger among players. Some want to leave the club. Others may go to court over lost bonuses. The team had beaten Middlesbrough to reach the play-off final. Their expulsion cost them a chance at Premier League football and around £200 million.
Solak found out about the spying on social media platform X. He sent messages asking “What is this?” He claims senior staff also knew nothing about the plan.
The owner called the punishment “ridiculous” and “too severe”. He compared the spying to players diving to win penalties. “That is cheating with direct influence on the game,” he argued. “What we did was wrong, but the punishment does not fit the crime.”
A junior staff member said Eckert’s orders put them under “extreme pressure”. Solak admitted this culture is unacceptable. He said staff should refuse tasks that make them uncomfortable.
The Football Association is still investigating. They could charge and ban Eckert. Solak said he would support the coach through any appeal. But if the FA bans him, he cannot manage. “I cannot employ someone who is not allowed to work,” he explained. “But if they ban him, he will find a better job in Italy or Germany.”