Tonda Eckert on spygate: 'I am responsible for everything' | OneFootball

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert has given a message in the wake of the spygate scandal that saw his side kicked out of the Championship play-offs.

The Saints were set to face Hull City in the play-off final after defeating Middlesbrough but were removed from the play-offs after being found guilty of spying on Boro and other sides.

The club's owner Dragan Solak has backed his manager who has his 'full support' despite the spying that went against EFL rules.

"I am responsible for everything that has happened in this football club. I am responsible for everything that has happened in my coaching staff," Eckert said about the incident in a video released by Southampton today.

"I do apologise to the supporters, to everyone who has travelled with us, who has supported us over so many games."

Eckert went on to apologise to clubs before going into more detail about the incidents that have happened. Southampton were found to have spied on three clubs: Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough with Eckert giving further details into each case.

Regarding Oxford United the team sent someone 'to see if they would switch from a back five to a back four.'

There was less detail about the Ipswich Town case with the coach saying he only saw the footage 'two hours' before kick-off.

Then, he emphasised that the filming of Middlesbrough's sessions was only to see if midfielder Hayden Hackney was likely to line up for Boro.

"None of what has happened had any effect on the sporting performance. I don't want to use this as an excuse, but just as much as I promise honesty and clarity, I also want to give you a little bit of context.

"I think you deserve to have some context to what has happened. It has been the players, and it has always been the players."

Eckert's message reflects Southampton's early statement which emphasised a lack of sporting advantage from spying on other teams – something that is impossible to prove one way or another.