Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert expressed his gratitude for retaining his position despite the ongoing Spygate scandal, asserting that public perception diverges significantly from the truth.

In May, Southampton faced expulsion from the Championship play-offs after defeating Middlesbrough in the semi-finals, due to findings of spying on their training sessions. The club was also found guilty of similar misconduct on two other occasions. Currently, Eckert awaits the outcome of a Football Association investigation, as he has been charged with misconduct related to the incidents.

During a fans' forum hosted by BBC Radio Solent, Eckert stated:

The owner has the right to take consequences. At that time it would have been right for me to accept they would go in a different direction.

Eckert criticized certain media narratives that he believes distort his image, thanking Southampton's owner, Dragan Solak, for his steadfast support amid public scrutiny. Solak had previously announced in June that he would not dismiss Eckert, and he was seen with the squad during a recent training camp in Germany.

Eckert remarked, "There has been a lot out in the media and I haven't done a lot of interviews. There has been an image created that I think is very far away from the truth."

He emphasized the significance of Solak's decision, stating, "It means a lot that the owner wasn't swayed by public opinion but looked at what actually happened. I am very grateful for that."