New developments over the lengths Southampton went to orchestrate their ‘Spygate’ scandal can be revealed with new WhatsApp messages seen, implicating their head coach Tonda Eckert.
Southampton were thrown out of the Championship play-off final just over a week ago and deducted four points from next season after being found guilty of charges of spying on opponents in the second tier.
The south coast club had pleaded guilty to charges of spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town in the regular season, and then Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final.
Junior members of staff have told an independent disciplinary commission that they were ‘under extreme pressure’ from Eckert to spy on rivals.
In one text exchange, a junior intern received second-hand praise from Eckert for his reconnaissance mission on an Oxford United training session before their December clash. The intern’s boss told him: ‘You legend. Manager loved it.’
Reflecting on how the whole incident played out, the intern told the independent disciplinary commission in his evidence: ‘I didn’t really have an option and wasn’t provided an opportunity to say no. I was an intern and was doing what I was told.’
A Southampton analyst hiding behind a tree to spy on Middlesbrough’s training session
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