Bromley manager Andy Woodman has become the latest individual to denounce Southampton for allowing Tonda Eckert to remain in charge of the Championship promotion contenders despite his involvement in last season’s now-infamous ‘Spygate’ controversy.

The sequence of events is fairly well-documented, with Eckert sent an intern analyst to spy on play-off semi-final opponents Middlesbrough ahead of a tense first-leg clash on Teesside.

Southampton would go on to defeat Kim Hellberg’s team in the second leg at home, but the fallout was seismic, as the Saints were shortly expelled from the final against Hull City at Wembley Stadium and given a four-point deduction for the future 2026/27 season.

Eckert is generally known to have played a key role in the incident and has been charged by the FA, which means he may still face a six-month penalty if Southampton are proven to have illegally monitored two other Championship sides under his directions.

However, he stays at St Mary’s and has received public support from Saints owner Dragan Solak over the summer, much to the chagrin of many outside of Hampshire.

Andy Woodman and Lyle Taylor criticise Dragan Solak’s Tonda Eckert and Southampton position.

Solak has maintained his faith and support for Eckert, but the way in which the German manager has been vilified suggests that the Saints’ attitude has not been widely accepted.

Though Southampton supporters have quickly recovered from the Spygate scandal and sanctions and are relieved that Eckert has remained in charge of the promotion hopefuls, the rest of the football world sees things differently and believes he is getting off lightly in the eyes of the club.

Andy Woodman, who produced one of the EFL’s greatest underdog stories by leading Bromley to the League Two title last season, is among those who oppose Eckert and the second chance Solak has given him at Southampton.

Woodman believes that Southampton would have been better served by “clearing the decks” and overseeing a reset rather than attempting to put it right under Eckert, and the Ravens manager has stated that he would have fired the 33-year-old if it had been up to him.

In an interview with Lyle Taylor and Luke Chambers on BBC Radio 5 Live’s 72+ EFL Pod, Woodman expressed his desire to remove the manager.”I know I shouldn’t say that, but that’s what I would have done.”I would have cleared the decks; isn’t that still hanging around the manager? What will they (the FA) do with him?

As a manager, I believe it was the manager’s responsibility to create this situation, which cost the club a promotion opportunity.Then you have the fanbase; I believe it should have been clear and start over.”

How Southampton reacts to Tonda Eckert’s FA allegations

As previously stated, Eckert is still facing the potential of a ban. That, of course, would put the Saints in a hazardous position as the new season begins, despite their manager’s ardent support, as they remain unsure of his future plans.

Depending on the severity and scope of a prospective punishment, Southampton may be forced to part ways with Eckert, which they hope will not be the case.

Saints technical director Johannes Spors recently addressed the uncertainty, stating that the club has explored many options while Eckert’s future hangs in the balance.

According to the Independent, Spors stated: “There are so many uncertainty about how this could play out.

“At the moment, I’m honestly extremely positive about the coming weeks.

“There was some controversy while Tonda watched the game from above (in the stands for a pre-season friendly versus Preussen-Munster). That was a little training.

Tonda Eckert’s record in Southampton as of 12/8/26

Matches

W

D

L

Win percentage: 41.

26 9 6 63.4% “We are thinking about many scenarios, but nothing is firm at the moment. “We prioritise the present moment and will address any issues that arise.”In my office, with the people around me, we discuss various scenarios to be prepared, and I am still hopeful for a positive end.”

Southampton may love the seige mindset under Tonda Eckert.
Southampton’s public image and popularity have been dealt no favours whatsoever by both the scandal in question and the internal handling of it, and as many continue to hope for Eckert’s comeuppance in the form of an extended ban from football, he’s free to continue his duties at this moment in time and, for as long as that remains the case, his side may just relish the target they now have on their backs.

The events of the past few months appear to have contributed to the formation of a siege mentality, with Southampton pitted against the world as a potential second promotion bid looms in 2026/27.

With Eckert still having the backing and buy-in of key powerbrokers, players, and supporters alike, his popularity on this side of the south coast stands in stark contrast to how he’s perceived in the wider EFL landscape – but Southampton won’t mind if he can re-work last season’s magic in a more ethical manner and return the club to the top flight at the second time of asking.