Southampton’s new signing Cyle Larin has joined Daniel Peretz in debunking the biggest Tonda Eckert ‘Spygate’ myth.
The ‘Spygate’ scandal surrounding Southampton broke almost a month ago. Since then, the EFL brutally expelled Saints from the Championship playoffs final and stamped a 4 point deduction for the 2026/27 Championship campaign.
From that moment, the media kept creating multiple myths about Southampton and Tonda Eckert. The Saints were tipped for mass firing at boardroom level, which later turned out to be false.
Owner and chairman Dragan Solak has confirmed key figures like Phil Parsons, Johannes Spors and Tonda Eckert will all stay barring an FA ban on the German head coach.
Tonda Eckert was branded as a ‘cheat’ when it later emerged, that spying was an acceptable practice across Europe and Eckert instructed the interns to go to Middlesbrough’s training ground before the 72-hours deadline ahead of kickoff. And now, another Tonda Eckert ‘Spygate’ myth has been broken.
Southampton players will ‘refuse to play under Tonda Eckert’ myth
Despite missing out on 2025/26 Premier League promotion, Southampton boast one of the strongest squads in the Championship. It’s normal to assume that the club might sell a few key players against irresistible Premier League transfer offers but speculating a mass exodus is just exaggerating things too much.
READ MORE: Southampton receive another boost as Ryan Manning keen to renew expiring 2027 contract
READ MORE: Southampton announce Cyle Larin’s permanent signing and drop James Bree renewal hint
READ MORE: Southampton receive Aaron Ramsdale transfer boost after €7m Peretz signing
For days, the English media kept repeating a mass exodus is on the cards for Southampton, players want to sue the club for being axed from a hard-earned playoffs final. Nobody will want to play under Tonda Eckert. All that has been put to bed by new signings Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz’s comments.
Cyle Larin joins Daniel Peretz in debunking biggest Tonda Eckert ‘Spygate’ myth
First, it was Daniel Peretz who admitted that working with Tonda Eckert was a big factor in him staying at Southampton. Then, Cyle Larin also joined in with praise for Saints boss Eckert.
After his £2.5m move from Mallorca, Larin said: “Speaking to [Tonda Eckert] before I came, was an important decision. He gave me that trust to be able to go on the field and know I’m going to play games and play minutes and do what I do, score goals and just help the team and build up, hold the ball, and all these things that I knew I could do.”
Providing more context, Larin was going through a pathetic 2025/26 season on loan at Feyenoord where he managed only 1 goal in six months. Managing such a striker running low on goals and confidence, is tough and more so when Larin was 30 while joining Southampton.
Tonda Eckert made Larin’s Saints arrival a smooth transition, set the tactics to his heading and hold-up play strengths. And most importantly, got goals from both Larin and Stewart while ensuring none of them get fatigued in a long Championship season.
One can say Eckert resorted to occasional spying, but he didn’t authorise breaking the 72-hour rule. And above all, there is an elite tactician in him who can adapt to different leagues, manage minutes well across a bloated squad while getting the best out of everybody.
Larin and Peretz’s words convey the belief Southampton players have in Tonda Eckert. It won’t come as a surprise if the majority of star players stayed put eventually and reached the Premier League with Eckert in the Saints dugout.
READ MORE SOUTHAMPTON NEWS HERE:
- Southampton receive another boost as Ryan Manning keen to renew expiring 2027 contract
- Southampton announce Cyle Larin’s permanent signing and drop James Bree renewal hint
- Southampton receive Aaron Ramsdale transfer boost after €7m Peretz signing
- Southampton drop Cyle Larin transfer hint in Daniel Peretz announcement clip
- Southampton have Tonda Eckert to thank for permanent Daniel Peretz signing
