A junior analyst at Southampton has revealed feeling compelled to spy on the club’s Championship rivals, igniting the controversial ‘Spygate’ scandal. Last month, the Saints faced expulsion from the playoff final after being caught spying on their semi-final opponents, Middlesbrough. An appeal against this decision was rejected, with the League Arbitration Panel publicly detailing their findings on Monday.

The panel's report highlighted the role of Saints’ head coach Tonda Eckert, describing the spying as “a contrived and determined plan from top down to gain a competitive advantage.” Key points from the investigation include:

• Southampton spied on Oxford, Ipswich, and Middlesbrough to gather crucial tactical information.
• Junior staff members felt pressured to comply, fearing job loss if they refused.
• The junior analyst intern stated, “I didn’t really have an option… I was doing what I was told.”

The report detailed specific instances, such as Eckert's interest in whether Oxford would field a back four or back five before their Boxing Day match. The pressure was evident, with messages like, “Try and make out as much as you can please. You legend. Manager loved it,” indicating a high-stakes environment.

In one instance, an analyst donned Eastleigh kit to observe Ipswich train prior to a match that ended in a 2-2 draw at St Mary’s on April 28. Eckert was also scrutinized for attempting to watch Middlesbrough's training to assess player involvement.

Despite acknowledging a breach of regulations, Southampton questioned the impartiality of the League Arbitration Panel, particularly concerning member David Winnie, who had past ties to Middlesbrough. The club argued that such connections raised questions about the fairness of the proceedings.