SaintsExtra

A topic that seems to be dividing the #SaintsFC fanbase. Pending the findings of the FA's investigation, where do you stand on Tonda Eckert's future?

#SaintsFC | Pep Guardiola on the practice of spying after Leeds’ Spygate in 2019: “It is more difficult [in England]. It is private. But in all the countries I have been before, everybody does it. When we were training at Bayern Munich there were people in the little mountains with cameras and the opponent was watching what we did. Everybody did it. It is the culture of the clubs.” [via @TimesSport]

In 2015, when #SaintsFC head coach Tonda Eckert worked at 1. FC Köln, a story emerged claiming the club had spied on Hamburg using a scout disguised as a journalist. In 2013, Edin Terzic, who will be the head coach of Athletic Club from next season, disguised himself as a steward to enter a Real Madrid training session while working for Borussia Dortmund. Ole Werner, the head coach of RB Leipzig, said last month that he sent staff to hide in bushes and monitor opponents’ sessions with drones. [via @TimesSport]

🕵️‍♂️📰 “In many respects, #SaintsFC head coach Tonda Eckert is a product of the footballing environment in which he was raised. There is no evidence that he was once a young staff member hiding in bushes, but spying is not against the rules in German football. In fact, it is tolerated and occasionally praised. “In 2018, Julian Nagelsmann, now the coach of Germany’s national team, brushed off the discovery of a Werder Bremen analyst spying on his Hoffenheim side. “I’m not really angry at the analyst doing his job,” he said. “It is actually commendable if an employee does everything for their club and even tries to spy on other teams.” “Open training sessions are held regularly in Germany and although subterfuge is broadly frowned upon, clubs feel implementing rules to prohibit it is not worth the sort of bother that is now engulfing Southampton and the English game.” [via @TimesSport] thetimes.com/sport/football…

Daniel Peretz on #SaintsFC: “I don't have a bad word to say about the club: I love the players, I love the staff, I love the manager, I love the fans, I love the city. I had an amazing time. We went through a sort of trauma, so I need a few days to be with family, to think things over with a clear head." [via @sport5il]

Daniel Peretz on his future: "I don't know what will happen yet, it's too early to know. We'll digest everything that happened, we'll take our time. Now we're taking a mental break with the family." #saintsfc @WallaSport

Daniel Peretz reflects on the 2025/26 season and his time at #SaintsFC: "I enjoyed it a lot. I gained a lot of experiences, a lot of ups and downs. This is a season that started with a lot of difficult moments, but we got through them together. After that came a very busy and successful period, thank God. We've come a long way this year." [via @WallaSport]

Daniel Peretz on Spygate at #SaintsFC: "It sucks a lot, it hurts a lot. We worked very hard. We were really looking forward to the game, we were already there! It's not in our control. It sucks a lot. But we have no way to change it and how to influence it. You really want to play in the Premier League. You want to get promoted, to succeed as a team. We had the opportunity to play at Wembley, in the 'most expensive game' in European football, but we didn't get it. It sucks and it hurts. There's a feeling of missing out, but I accept everything with joy and love. I'm sure something better awaits me." [via @WallaSport]

📆 One year ago today: Southampton announced Will Still as the club’s next head coach #saintsfc

📊 Confirmed: The 2026/27 Championship lineup #saintsfc @The92Bible

🏟️ After their promotion to the Championship this afternoon, Southampton will meet Bolton in the league next season, for the first time in more than 21 years #saintsfc

🚨👕 Leaked: The 2026/27 Southampton home shirt - front and back #saintsfc @Footy_Headlines

🚨 Southampton & Brighton are among a number of clubs keeping tabs on Fleetwood Town goalkeeper Oliver Bellizia (19) #saintsfc @SportsPeteO

📧 Full email to #SaintsFC CEO Phil Parsons from the club’s Fan Advisory Board in light of Spygate: "In our view, communications have been poor throughout this process, with much of the information gained by fans coming from sources other than the club. "Since the CEO note, immediately after the failed appeal, there has been no communication, other than a brief notice about refunds, which made no further apology or recognition of the fan impact. "In all honesty, the silence is deafening. Being on the front foot is important for our fans. This is not just about apology and internal rectification, even if those aspects are critical. "It is also about fighting our corner in a manner that maximises unity. Statements on the website should be more frequent, as above; media appearances similarly in the form of live interviews. "We believe that the club should also organise an urgent Fans Forum within the next week, where key figures from the club (namely Dragan and you [Parsons]) address the fans in a live Q&A format. "It won't be easy, but past experience suggests this helps a lot e.g. that carried out by Rasmus [Ankersen], Henrik [Kraft] and Martin [Semmens] towards the end of the Nathan Jones era. "Whilst developments on the recent issues will inevitably take some time to resolve, given legal and disciplinary matters, a more immediate concern is that of season tickets. "Over 19,000 fans had season tickets last year. They have been badly let down by the club and recent events, and effectively, the results of every game they attended has become irrelevant. "Season ticket holders are the lifeblood of the club, and we need to help them to want to renew and rejoin the process of rebuilding. "We feel that a freeze on renewal prices is the minimum such gesture, though a reduction would recognise recent events more accurately. "We believe that some form of refund should happen for the Middlesbrough games, home and away. "We absolutely recognise that club costs have risen, and that we need the income to make us competitive on the field. "However, we also need people to renew, despite being utterly disaffected, and the balance has to err on the side of incentive, in our view. "Pending a Fans Forum, we suggest holding an emergency FAB meeting with the club to discuss the above matters in more depth, with a group of fans who have shown their commitment and loyalty over many years, and can be trusted to be constructive in our work. "The club have decided to recruit a new FAB over the summer, but now may not be the best time to go out for candidates. "The current FAB are happy to continue to work as normal until such time as the new Board is appointed." [via @dailyecho] dailyecho.co.uk/sport/26134470…

🗣️🎙️ Southampton’s Fan Advisory Board have called for the club to host an emergency fans forum within the next week – with key figures at the club, including Dragan Solak & Phil Parsons, in an email sent directly to the CEO #saintsfc @rees_julian

Key dates for #SaintsFC this summer: 📆 15 June: Transfer window opens 📆 25 June: EFL fixture release (12pm) 📆 14 Aug: EFL opening weekend 📆 1 Sep: Transfer window closes (11pm)

🍺 Taylor Harwood-Bellis on Instagram #saintsfc

🚨🐯 Official: Middlesbrough become the first club to lose both the Championship play-off semi-final AND final. History makers.

Here’s how the shirt would look with the P&O Cruises sponsor for reference — unconfirmed if they will continue partnership next season #saintsfc

🚨 BREAKING: Southampton’s 26-27 home shirt has been leaked #saintsfc @Footy_Headlines