Southampton’s Tonda Eckert has admitted fault over the Spygate incident, insisting he takes full responsibility for the outcome

Tonda Eckert has taken responsibility for the Spygate saga, with the Southampton boss admitting accountability and offering an apology.

Freshly released WhatsApp messages have shed light on how Southampton F.C. allegedly coordinated a spying operation targeting Championship rivals.

According to findings published by the independent disciplinary panel, junior members of staff told investigators they felt intense pressure from head coach Tonda Eckert to take part in activities they believed were unethical and were uncomfortable carrying out.

The conversations formed part of the League Arbitration Panel’s written judgment after Southampton appealed against sanctions that saw the club removed from the Championship play-offs and handed a four-point deduction for the following season.

Southampton had already admitted to gathering intelligence on Oxford United F.C. and Ipswich Town F.C. during the regular campaign, as well as spying on Middlesbrough F.C. before their play-off meeting.

The panel concluded that the operation was organised at senior level, describing it as a deliberate strategy that had the approval of the club’s head coach.

The newly disclosed messages provide further insight into how the operation unfolded. One academy analyst claimed he was instructed to watch Oxford United’s training despite feeling he had no real choice because he was still an intern. After sending information back to the coaching staff, he received a message praising his efforts and stating that the manager was pleased with the report.

The same staff member later voiced concerns when asked to observe Ipswich Town, but was reportedly informed that the manager insisted someone had to complete the assignment.

Following the controversy becoming public, another analyst reportedly admitted he had been uncomfortable with the operation from the beginning and believed it was wrong, but said his concerns had been ignored.

The report also explains that the intern was eventually identified by Middlesbrough staff while observing a training session ahead of the clubs’ play-off clash. It states he only became aware of the allegations against Southampton while travelling home by train, and further claims the club later attempted to remove online images of him after the incident came to light.