Solak Backs Eckert Despite Spygate Expulsion, Demands Strict Compliance

Southampton owner Dragan Solak has thrown his weight behind manager Tonda Eckert in the aftermath of the club's Championship playoff final expulsion, insisting the boss deserves a fresh start despite his central role in the spygate scandal.

The south-coast club was booted out of last month's playoff decider—the game that promises riches beyond measure for Premier League promotion—after admitting they had monitored rival training sessions within 72 hours of fixtures. An Independent Disciplinary Commission confirmed that Eckert had given the nod to the scheme.

Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Solak made clear his intention to retain the Serbian manager. "I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him. My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he's a super-talented manager," the owner stated.

Solak suggested he believed Eckert's claim that he was simply unaware of EFL protocols. "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 explained.

The billionaire owner, who acquired Southampton in 2022, did acknowledge he would consult with staff, players and supporters before finalising his decision, though his position appeared firm. "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," he added.

Eckert himself issued a public apology via video on Tuesday, posted across Southampton's social channels. The manager claimed that observing training sessions was standard procedure in other leagues where he has worked.

"There are different rules from the EFL and I should have known them… I am a young coach," Eckert said. "I have made a mistake, and I take full responsibility."

However, Solak has made abundantly clear there will be no repeat offences. The Serbian magnate revealed he had delivered a forthright message to his manager about the road ahead.

"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 stated.