Eckert downplays Wrexham Spygate video as Saints chase points

Southampton Tonda Eckert, the club’s head coach, addressed the Wrexham Spygate dig on Saturday afternoon, insisting the incident will not affect his side’s preparations. He said the players have already seen the video and that it does not change the team’s focus ahead of the upcoming league match.

Eckert’s academic and early career background

Tonda Eckert graduated with a 2:1 (Hons) in Multimedia Journalism at the University of Wolverhampton in September 2024, before earning a Merit in an MA Sports Journalism at Coventry University in 2025. He previously covered Rugby League and non‑league football matches for various sites, and he worked as an intern with Wolves’ Academy between 2023 and 2025. These experiences gave him a solid grounding in both media and grassroots football.

Southampton’s Spygate fallout and Wrexham’s video

Southampton were expelled from last season’s Championship play‑off final after admitting to multiple rule breaches, including spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town. The club also started the current campaign with a four‑point deduction imposed by the EFL because of the same Spygate scandal. Despite the penalty, the Saints were heavily fancied for the play‑offs, and early‑season form erased the deficit.

Wrexham, now a Championship side, have attracted high‑profile investment from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, climbing from the National League to the Championship in three years. In the off‑season the club partnered with the internet‑browser company Firefox, which became its front‑of‑shirt sponsor. To promote the partnership, Reynolds and McElhenney produced a Spygate‑esque video that referenced Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Oxford as a result of Southampton’s off‑field misdemeanours.

When asked if he had seen the clip before the team’s journey to North Wales, Eckert replied: “The players have watched it. I’ve seen it last night. It doesn’t change anything. You can imagine that the whole situation is not particularly funny for me, but I think that’s all there is to say.”

Fans reacted with a mix of sarcasm and irritation. One supporter wrote, “I’m not amused,” while another posted, “Like a thread of jokes on the log, here the club is shown.” A third fan added, “Give the Red Dragons a break, South fans, the video is cringey.” The comments illustrate the lingering tension between the two clubs.

The international break looms, and a final FA decision on Eckert’s future is expected before the South Coast derby with Portsmouth on 11 October. The German coach can only control what happens on the pitch, and his calm stance suggests he is focused on securing three points before the break.

Southampton have enjoyed a positive start to the season despite the points deduction, and Eckert’s measured response to the Wrexham Spygate dig reinforces the club’s resolve to push on in the league.