Tonda Eckert’s eight-minute 'Spygate' apology to Southampton fans as new details emerge - 'I am responsible for everything'

Tonda Eckert has broken his silence on Southampton's expulsion from the Championship play-offs over the 'Spygate' scandal, releasing an apology to the club's supporters.

The Saints admitted to multiple breaches of EFL rules after spying on opposition training sessions.

An intern was caught watching semi-final opponents Middlesbrough train and it later emerged that the club had also spied on Oxford United and Ipswich Town during the regular season.

The FA Cup semi-finalists were expelled from the play-offs after beating Boro over two legs and deducted four points for the 2026/27 season, after an independent disciplinary commission concluded that Eckert was behind what it called a "contrived and determined plan from the top down" to spy on opponents.

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The report stated: "These junior members of staff felt compelled to do what they were very uncomfortable doing because they considered their jobs would otherwise be at risk."

Eckert had been keen to find out whether Middlesbrough's Championship player of the season Hayden Hackney would be fit to play.

However, Eckert retains the confidence of Southampton owner Dragan Solak, who has told BBC Sport that the "super-talented" 33-year-old has his "full support."

Solak added that Eckert "didn’t know the rule that he was breaking."

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Eckert has now issued an eight-minute "personal message" in which he "mostly" apologises to Southampton fans - and takes responsibility for what happened.

"For everything that's happened, I do want to apologise and I hold my hand up because as a head coach, I am responsible," said Eckert. "I am responsible for everything that has happened in this football club. I am responsible for everything that has happened in my coaching staff.

"I do apologise to the supporters, to everyone who has travelled with us, who has supported us over so many games.”

Middlesbrough were beaten over two legs by Southampton in their semi-final, but they were reinstated after making a formal complaint to the EFL over the spying.

Hull City, however, went on to secure promotion to the Premier League , winning the Wembey final 1-0.

Eckert referred to the "pain" felt by everyone at the club when the decision was made to expel the club from the play-offs.

"We were supposed to play the biggest game of the season," he said. "I apologise to the players, who have done absolutely everything that they can.

"They have done absolutely everything in the last six months to bring this club back to where it belongs. They would have deserved to play the final.

"It hurts to see the employees of the club, it hurts to see the staff, it hurts to see the players who have invested so much in the preparation for games.

"To see their pain on the day the decision came in, because it has such a big impact, not just on them and their career, but also on their families. I apologise to all of the clubs that have been involved, and mostly I apologise to our supporters."

Damning WhatsApp messages

WhatApp messages detailed in the League Arbitration Panel's report revealed how a junior analyst was sent to watch Oxford train before a December fixture.

He sent a message to colleagues saying: "I didn't really have an option and wasn't provided an opportunity to say no. I was an intern and was doing what I was told."

When he sent information from the session back to the club, he received a message which read: "You legend. Manager loved it."

He expressed concerns about a second spying mission, this time on Ipswich Town when they were training at nearby Eastleigh, but was told: "The boss is adamant that someone needs to go."

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