“The bitter irony of the cases is that none of what has happened had any effect on the sporting performance." Tonda Eckert on spying on Oxford, Ipswich, Boro. Bitter irony? Undermines his attempt at contrition when he argues that yes they spied but it didn't help. Read the room.
This really is quite something. The frankness is to be applauded. But the apology is still accompanied by a real belief that fundamentally Southampton haven’t done anything wrong. And the lack of any accountability at the top of Southampton remains remarkable…
🚨 Southampton guilty of “DEPLORABLE APPROACH” in putting “PRESSURE” on junior staff to spy on opposition teams
🔍 “AUTHORISED” by head coach Tonda Eckert
❌ Club LIED about spying after allegations
💣 Bombshell written reasons into Spygate scandal…
https://t.co/MkbnUOSNWP
Thinking back to the moment the Southampton press officer told a Boro reporter to "show some respect" after asking Tonda Eckert if he's a cheat.
Whoof.
Jeepers, peepers, Southampton lose appeal. Correct decision. Cheating is cheating. Hull City will play Middlesbrough in Saturday’s Championship play-off final at 3.30pm at Wembley. Time for some contrition and reflection at St Mary’s. Time for reimbursing their fans and rebuilding their damaged reputation. Must be doubts over Tonda Eckert’s job now.
"What an absolute shambles!" 😡
"He should not be managing in this country!" 👀
Andy Townsend SLAMS Southampton's SPYGATE SCANDAL and WANTS Tonda Eckert SACKED! 😱
Anyone with any knowledge of English football history will know that it is ridiculous for Southampton’s chief executive, Phil Parsons, to claim that their expulsion from the Championship play-offs is a bigger punishment than the 30-point deduction imposed on Luton Town in 2008 which led to relegation and almost throttled the life out of the club. Absolutely no comparison and completely weakens Southampton’s attempted argument that being thrown out of the play-offs is “manifestly disproportionate to every previous sanction in the history of the English game”.
There is some good stuff in Parsons’ statement: accepting culpability for Spygate, apologising to those clubs they spied on and apologising to their fans “whose extraordinary loyalty and support this season deserved better from the club”. Well said. But… the rules changed since Leeds United’s “similar offence” in 2019, there is no right to the £200m (it’s not a fine), and to play the whataboutery game and make the comparison with the Hatters is, fittingly, mad. Southampton’s reputation is certainly damaged but at least their very existence is not at risk. #SaintsFC #LTFC
Taylor Harwood-Bellis celebrated like this in front of Middlesbrough players not long after making fun of Luke Ayling's speech impediment, Southampton have now been kicked out of the play off final 7 days later...
Karma is an incredible thing... 🤣