The China Mail - Saints owner sticks by manager despite 'spygate' scandal

Saints were expelled from the Championship play-off final -- regarded as the richest game in world football -- after admitting to spying on some opponents' training sessions, with beaten semi-finalists Middlesbrough reinstated.

The English Football League (EFL) said Southampton had been kicked out after admitting to "multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training".

However, despite Eckert being heavily criticised -- especially for deploying an intern to conduct the spying mission, which the EFL lambasted as "a particularly deplorable approach" -- Solak is adamant that the German enjoys his full confidence.

"I think he deserves a second chance and I would give it to him," the Serbian businessman told BBC Sport.

"My full support would be behind him actually, because I think he's a super-talented manager."

Eckert, 33, had said in his defence that he was "surprised" a practice widely used in mainland Europe was illegal in England.

"I believe Tonda that he didn't know that it was the rule that he was breaking," said Solak, whose media company acquired a majority stake in the club in 2022.

"My personal opinion, and the opinion of the board, is that he is a manager who deserves to be backed by us and to be supported by us.

"I will obviously seek advice from the team. I will seek advice from the players, from the fans. But yes, if it's ultimately my decision, he stays."

- 'Double jeopardy' -

However, Solak said that he has told Eckert to swat up on the rulebook during the close season.

"I told him: 'You almost broke my heart," said the 61-year-old Serbian.

"You do it again, you'll kill me. The next time I see you in July, if you don't know the EFL book of rules by heart, you can't work for me. Because, we can't have another mistake'.

"I truly hope that he will learn from this experience and he will achieve an incredible career."

Eckert is not yet totally out of the woods as the Football Association (FA) has launched a probe into the affair and could still charge him -- meaning he may face a ban if found guilty.

The German's case has not been helped by admitting that Southampton also spied on second-tier rivals Oxford United and Ipswich Town.

Solak, though, believes that Eckert has been subjected to "a witch-hunt" and that the club has been "over-sentenced" -- they also received a four-point deduction for next season.

"My support comes from a very simple legal situation where there is no double jeopardy," said Solak.

"Whatever crime you did, you can be sentenced only once.

"I think we were 'over-sentenced'. The punishment that the club received was severe and completely disproportionate to the mistake that we made. We lost our chance to win £200 million ($270 million).

"But if they're going to go again and then double that with (a) ban, we might appeal."

E.Choi--ThChM