Tonda Eckert on shortlist for job in top league despite Southampton spygate scandal

Under-fire Southampton manager Tonda Eckert is on the radar of clubs in Serie A, according to journalist Rudy Galetti.

Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs last week despite beating Middlesbrough over two legs in the semi-finals.

Middlesbrough were reinstated and ultimately defeated by Hull City at Wembley, leaving Southampton supporters outraged and out of pocket.

Reports suggest that some of the Saints players are considering taking legal action against their employers on the basis of lost potential earnings from promotion to the Premier League.

Eckert is widely expected to be dismissed by Southampton but no action has yet been taken.

Galetti reports that clubs in Italy are monitoring the situation.

"Several Italian clubs have recently added Tonda Eckert to their shortlist of potential future coaches," he claims.

"Eckert’s reputation inside football remains very strong. Nevertheless, Eckert and the club are taking the accusations very seriously. But in fact and independent from that, his work with the club has been highly appreciated by different teams across Europe, especially in Italy.

"He speaks fluent Italian and completed his coaching licence courses in the country, something that has helped him build relationships and credibility within Italian football circles.

"At this stage, the names of the interested clubs remain undisclosed, but the interest is real and growing quietly behind the scenes."

Serie A's coaching situation is as fluid as they come. AC Milan are actively seeking a successor for sacked head coach Max Allegri and 2024-25 champions Napoli could soon be in the same situation if speculation about Antonio Conte's future comes to pass.

There will be more vacancies between now and the first international break of next season and Galetti is clear that Eckert could be in the frame.

Senior figures implicated in Southampton spygate offences

Southampton's ejection from the play-offs reflected the seriousness of the charges, which appear to extend beyond the alleged espionage itself.

"The EFL submitted that the evidence supported the view that the observations were authorised at a senior level and that the task was delegated to the intern in relation to the [Middlesbrough] Incident and the [Oxford United] Incident," stated the full written reasons from the independent commission.

"We have concluded that there was, on the part of [Southampton], a contrived and determined plan from the top down to gain a competitive advantage in competitions of real significance by deliberate attendance at opposition training grounds for the purpose of obtaining tactical and selection information.

"It involved far more than innocent activity and a particularly deplorable approach in its use of junior members of staff to conduct the clandestine observations at the direction of senior personnel."