Tonda Eckert says it was “tough to read” the judgement about his role in Southampton’s Spygate case, as the club continue to deal with the fallout from their punishment and a separate Football Association investigation.
Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs in mid-May after admitting they spied on three clubs during the campaign. The club were charged with watching training sessions involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town and filming Middlesbrough, and the punishment also left Middlesbrough back in the play-offs, where they eventually lost to Hull City.
Eckert, who was appointed Southampton boss permanently in December, said he had held his hand up over a judgement he authorised and accepted responsibility for what happened. He said it hurt for a number of different reasons, adding that he apologised for the bad judgement.
“It’s tough to read some of the things that are out there, I’ve held my hand up for this judgement on something I have authorised,” Eckert said. “I am responsible and I apologise for bad judgement.”
He also said Southampton have already started moving forward again after the summer break. Eckert said he had returned for a week, and that there was “lots of smiles” and “a good energy in the place again” as players and staff got back to work.
“We’ve had a long break now, and it’s different for everyone,” he said. “For some putting last season behind them can take a couple of days, for others a little longer.”
The broader issue is still not over for Southampton. The Football Association has been investigating the club’s conduct for over a month, and Eckert said he felt the process had been professional, with questions asked and his version of events heard. He added that he could not influence the outcome now and that the focus has to be on preparing the players for the new season.
Southampton will begin the Championship on minus-four points, so the club’s punishment carries directly into the new campaign. That makes the FA’s next decision especially important, because the investigation could still lead to individual sanctions as well as the club penalty already confirmed.
