Sports Republics response to “Spygate”

[Toussaint]

35 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Indeed. Doesn't actually mean the club have told him that. If Tonda leaves today it still doesn't invalidate that info.

It’s not written as an opinion piece. I feel pretty sure he’s had a conversation. 

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

It’s not written as an opinion piece. I feel pretty sure he’s had a conversation. 

I hope so because I'd like Tonda to stay and the club must feel there is at least a chance of that happening. I'm surprised there haven't been more leaks from a couple of people about what our mindset is at the moment. I'm genuinely surprised they have said nothing for a week.

[Daft Kerplunk]

Something like this...not going to happen but one can wish and hope 😇

 

Dear supporters, 

We understand your frustration with the actions of the football club that have damaged this 141 year old organisation's reputation in the game, but most importantly, with you, the fans and the city we call home. We are sorry to you above everything for tarnishing the name of the team you love, and support enthusiastically in times of difficulty and the wonderful moments we share.  We have let you down. 

As a result, we are undertaking a root and branch review of all activity within the football club, and devising a plan that sees us become a benchmark for fair play, but also, one that is ambitious as a football club to produce teams that are able to compete consistently at the highest level.  The best way for us to apologise to you is to be the best version of a football club possible; one driven by the needs of being as competitive as possible within the spirit of the game and where revenue is reinvested in the core football activity.  This means we will sign and develop the best squads possible across all ages and levels, and give you something to believe in, and trust.  By doing this, we believe that we can then also become commercially successful as the foundation of this is a first team that competes and wins more than it loses, and develops players who fans have a strong connection with.

We acknowledge that we have not always been clear with you, we have hidden behind PR walls and have acted like we are above you.  This has been a poor approach as without connected fans, we would cease to exist.  Therefore, starting today, we are going to communicate our plans, be open with you by being more connected and answerable to you as fans.  We will also remove any staff who do not share this vision of a new model for a football club.  We cannot have people within this club who believe they can act as if they are more important than our purpose of becoming an example to others following our failings. 

We accept that we have not been good enough, and that the reality of the previous weeks presents us with an opportunity for radical change.  Our actions will speak louder than words.  

Thank you and we want to regain your trust,

All at Southampton FC.

[benjii]

45 minutes ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

Something like this...not going to happen but one can wish and hope 😇

 

Dear supporters, 

We understand your frustration with the actions of the football club that have damaged this 141 year old organisation's reputation in the game, but most importantly, with you, the fans and the city we call home. We are sorry to you above everything for tarnishing the name of the team you love, and support enthusiastically in times of difficulty and the wonderful moments we share.  We have let you down. 

As a result, we are undertaking a root and branch review of all activity within the football club, and devising a plan that sees us become a benchmark for fair play, but also, one that is ambitious as a football club to produce teams that are able to compete consistently at the highest level.  The best way for us to apologise to you is to be the best version of a football club possible; one driven by the needs of being as competitive as possible within the spirit of the game and where revenue is reinvested in the core football activity.  This means we will sign and develop the best squads possible across all ages and levels, and give you something to believe in, and trust.  By doing this, we believe that we can then also become commercially successful as the foundation of this is a first team that competes and wins more than it loses, and develops players who fans have a strong connection with.

We acknowledge that we have not always been clear with you, we have hidden behind PR walls and have acted like we are above you.  This has been a poor approach as without connected fans, we would cease to exist.  Therefore, starting today, we are going to communicate our plans, be open with you by being more connected and answerable to you as fans.  We will also remove any staff who do not share this vision of a new model for a football club.  We cannot have people within this club who believe they can act as if they are more important than our purpose of becoming an example to others following our failings. 

We accept that we have not been good enough, and that the reality of the previous weeks presents us with an opportunity for radical change.  Our actions will speak louder than words.  

Thank you and we want to regain your trust,

All at Southampton FC.

P.s. 

 

We hate Pompey and we hate Pompey.

You Skate bastards!!!

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Daft Kerplunk said:

we are undertaking a root and branch review

Probably not the best turn of phrase in the circumstances....

[trousers]

So.... This evening marks a full week (one whole f***ing week) since the appeal ruling, and since the club / owners last uttered anything about the situation...

I have just one question m'lud....

WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K IS GOING ON???!!!

(Aaaaaand.....Relax)

Edited 14 hours ago by trousers

[Willo of Whiteley]

They’re probably on holiday 😂

[SaintsfanSwindon]

Its starting to get beyond a joke now. A whole week and nothing. Fully appreciate there are many things going on behind the scenes and there is a hell of a lot to sort out but the fact there has been absolutely no communication to the fans is terrible. Surely they must be aware that due to everything going on that the fans will be anxious, worried, concerned etc. Even a brief holding statement simply acknowledging our concerns and that they will be communicating to fans as soon as they can would be something!

 

Edited 13 hours ago by SaintsfanSwindon

[Cuddles]

10 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

They’re probably on holiday 😂

They'll be down the Winchester waiting for it to all blow over.

[benjii]

Maybe Dragan sacked EVERYONE and he doesn't know the Twitter log in.

[Toussaint]

4 minutes ago, benjii said:

Maybe Dragan sacked EVERYONE and he doesn't know the Twitter log in.

I’d never thought of that, now you say it’s just obvious!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

16 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

They'll be down the Winchester waiting for it to all blow over.

Everyone at the club will turn up at the first fixture and act surprised that we're in this league.

"However did that happen? Oh well, might as well get on with things."

[gio1saints]

The reason we’ve heard not a thing is that this is a matter of life and death for SR. The brand is either fucked or it’s not. The next step determines that. It helps or it digs us deeper. It’s not just us it’s all the other SR clubs too which are affected by degrees. Why not send tonda to one of those in which it’s ok to do shit fucking stupid spying stuff? 
 

For me it possible that this spying practice is ok in SR clubs except at Saints in the ECL and this fucking obvious difference may be the reason he’s not gone. That and we want to see what the FA say first. It’s not impossible FA don’t ban him. But if we already sacked him who is the more stupid? 

[beatlesaint]

3 hours ago, trousers said:

So.... This evening marks a full week (one whole f***ing week) since the appeal ruling, and since the club / owners last uttered anything about the situation...

I have just one question m'lud....

WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K IS GOING ON???!!!

(Aaaaaand.....Relax)

Don’t worry, they’ll remember us when they want us to renew Season Tickets and buy the new home and away shirts !!

[trousers]

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by trousers

[St Chalet]

4 minutes ago, beatlesaint said:

Don’t worry, they’ll remember us when they want us to renew Season Tickets and buy the new home and away shirts !!

+ The third shirt and anniversary kit

[Harry_SFC]

30 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

As expected then. To be fair they can't come out and publicly back him, then he's banned a few days later. We'd then have to get rid and look even more stupid than we do now.

Also sacking him now would be self sabotage in my book. 

[James]

3 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

As expected then. To be fair they can't come out and publicly back him, then he's banned a few days later. We'd then have to get rid and look even more stupid than we do now.

Also sacking him now would be self sabotage in my book. 

It will also be self sabotage if we wait all summer for the investigation to conclude and then have to appoint Lallana or some other budget interim solution. 

[bpsaint]

43 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

Slightly sensationalist numbers from Blackmore there I feel. If he was pumping that kind of money in we’d know about it.

[Harry_SFC]

13 minutes ago, James said:

It will also be self sabotage if we wait all summer for the investigation to conclude and then have to appoint Lallana or some other budget interim solution. 

Well yes. There's obviously a time pressure. I would say surely there's some sort of deadline but this is SR we are talking about...

[beatlesaint]

11 minutes ago, James said:

It will also be self sabotage if we wait all summer for the investigation to conclude and then have to appoint Lallana or some other budget interim solution. 

Well not being funny but if he’s banned for say 3 months or less aren’t they likely to have an interim manager like Lallana (no I don’t want him but he’s the only name I can think of) while he serves the ban?

Obviously if it’s 6 months to a year that changes everything. 

[James]

1 minute ago, beatlesaint said:

Well not being funny but if he’s banned for say 3 months or less aren’t they likely to have an interim manager like Lallana (no I don’t want him but he’s the only name I can think of) while he serves the ban?

Obviously if it’s 6 months to a year that changes everything. 

If he is banned for any more than a month I think we have to move on. We can’t afford to waste 3 months of the season with some random interim manager, let’s face it, probably Lallana. We need to go all out for promotion next season as, if we don’t, we are on the way to becoming Stoke or Blackburn (or worse) in my view. 

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, James said:

If he is banned for any more than a month I think we have to move on. We can’t afford to waste 3 months of the season with some random interim manager, let’s face it, probably Lallana. We need to go all out for promotion next season as, if we don’t, we are on the way to becoming Stoke or Blackburn (or worse) in my view. 

Yep fair point. 

[Cuddles]

6 minutes ago, James said:

If he is banned for any more than a month I think we have to move on. We can’t afford to waste 3 months of the season with some random interim manager, let’s face it, probably Lallana. We need to go all out for promotion next season as, if we don’t, we are on the way to becoming Stoke or Blackburn (or worse) in my view. 

Couldn't we just run with Ben Garner for a while?

[James]

3 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

Couldn't we just run with Ben Garner for a while?

An equally bad solution as with Lallana. Garner’s record as a manager is dreadful. If we are serious about promotion we can’t wait for Eckert to serve anything more than a nominal ban. If he gets anything other than a nominal ban we should move for someone like Parker IMO.

Edited 10 hours ago by James

[beatlesaint]

1 minute ago, James said:

An equally bad solution as with Lallana. Garner’s record as a manager is dreadful. If we are serious about promotion we can’t wait for Eckert to serve a ban. If he gets anything other than a nominal ban we should move for someone like Parker IMO.

We could get old Woy Hodgson in on a short term deal 🤣

Edited 10 hours ago by beatlesaint

[James]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Well could get old Woy Hodgson in on a short term deal 🤣

Something like that would be a materially better solution than rolling with someone like Lallana or Garner. That said, if he’s banned for 3/6 months the club are going to have to wipe the slate clean IMO, no matter how highly they rate him. 

[Addict54]

5 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

Couldn't we just run with Ben Garner for a while?

Try putting that question to Bristol rovers fans and see what response you get 

[hypochondriac]

45 minutes ago, James said:

It will also be self sabotage if we wait all summer for the investigation to conclude and then have to appoint Lallana or some other budget interim solution. 

We will obviously be told a rough timescale. I doubt it will be more than a week or so.

[trousers]

34 minutes ago, James said:

Something like that would be a materially better solution than rolling with someone like Lallana or Garner. That said, if he’s banned for 3/6 months the club are going to have to wipe the slate clean IMO, no matter how highly they rate him. 

I reckon anything below 6 months and they might still consider sticking with him. Does anyone know whether any ban would commence from the start of the season, or from the date of being charged, or from the date of being convicted? That might make a difference....

Edited 9 hours ago by trousers

[Cuddles]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

I reckon anything below 6 months and they might still consider sticking with him. Does anyone know whether any ban would commence from the start of the season, or from the start of the season? That might make a difference....

From the start of the season or the start of the season?.

Absolutely 😂

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Surely if the financials involved are true and Eckert effectively cost us promotion, why would the club want to keep him if it results in the club having to sell the crown jewels 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Surely if the financials involved are true and Eckert effectively cost us promotion, why would the club want to keep him if it results in the club having to sell the crown jewels 

They may view him as the best option to get the club promoted. Not like he'd be likely to spy again given what happened this season.

Would they sack a player if he cheated in the playoff semi-final vs Middlesbrough by diving to win a penalty?

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Surely if the financials involved are true and Eckert effectively cost us promotion, why would the club want to keep him if it results in the club having to sell the crown jewels 

Because maybe the players have made their peace with it, many are happy to stay and they reckon it gives us the best chance of promotion next season. Really that's all that matters at the end of the day.

[trousers]

7 minutes ago, Cuddles said:

From the start of the season or the start of the season?.

Absolutely 😂

Oops! Edited 😂

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

They may view him as the best option to get the club promoted. Not like he'd be likely to spy again given what happened this season.

Would they sack a player if he cheated in the playoff semi-final vs Middlesbrough by diving to win a penalty?

Not sure you can really compare the two to be fair. Eckert is the manager and leader of the team, if it turns out he was sanctioning the spying then I really don’t see how he can stay. Especially if it also is proved that he was systematically bullying people to be involved.

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Not sure you can really compare the two to be fair. Eckert is the manager and leader of the team, if it turns out he was sanctioning the spying then I really don’t see how he can stay. Especially if it also is proved that he was systematically bullying people to be involved.

On what is that based?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Because maybe the players have made their peace with it, many are happy to stay and they reckon it gives us the best chance of promotion next season. Really that's all that matters at the end of the day.

I believe that when I see it to be honest. Obviously we aren't privy to the behind the scenes stuff, but I'll be amazed if the players are OK with the situation 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Not sure you can really compare the two to be fair. Eckert is the manager and leader of the team, if it turns out he was sanctioning the spying then I really don’t see how he can stay. Especially if it also is proved that he was systematically bullying people to be involved.

That part is the only thing I can see that could differentiate Eckert from Bielsa, in terms of the FA's viewpoint / rulebook.  Both Bielsa and Eckert sanctioned the spying, so there's no differential in that respect. 

Edited 9 hours ago by trousers

[Willo of Whiteley]

23 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

We will obviously be told a rough timescale. I doubt it will be more than a week or so.

Well a week ago I don’t think we’d ever have envisioned him still being here now

Edited 9 hours ago by Willo of Whiteley

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

On what is that based?

Wasn't that what formed the basis of the EFL allegations? That staff felt bullied and pressured into spying?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

That part is the only thing I can see that could differentiate Eckert from Bielsa, in terms of the FA's viewpoint / rulebook.  Both Bielsa and Eckert sanctioned the spying, so there's no differential in that respect. 

Let's also not forget that Bielsa was adored by the media too. It was even laughed off to a degree 

[hypochondriac]

6 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I believe that when I see it to be honest. Obviously we aren't privy to the behind the scenes stuff, but I'll be amazed if the players are OK with the situation 

Maybe they were fully aware of the spying. Maybe they share a commonly stated opinion from ex pros that everyone does it and that the punishment is ridiculous.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Well a week ago I don’t think we’d ever have envisioned him still being here now

No but if there was a chance that this goes on for months before any decision then we won't be starting the season with it hanging over us. Much more likely in that scenario that he goes on gardening leave but no need to get rid of him if that doesn't happen. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Maybe they were fully aware of the spying. Maybe they share a commonly stated opinion from ex pros that everyone does it and that the punishment is ridiculous.

Judging by the posts from Scienza and Pertez not sure they knew too much about what was going on. I agree that the punishment was harsh but the fallout from this is going to rumble on

[Hawkswood]

5 hours ago, trousers said:

So.... This evening marks a full week (one whole f***ing week) since the appeal ruling, and since the club / owners last uttered anything about the situation...

I have just one question m'lud....

WHAT THE ACTUAL F**K IS GOING ON???!!!

(Aaaaaand.....Relax)

Sadly though, it doesn't come as the greatest surprise does it.

[St. Ciervo]

What does an FA ban entail? I mean, is it just the touchline on match days? If that is the case, Tonda can run the preparations; the hay is in the barn on match day. He can zoom into the team room at half. We now know the staff is capable of using an iphone. 

[Thripp87]

I see the West Ham board of directors have got their PR spot on. Told the fans exactly what the plan is and also add offering 30% deductions on season ticket renewals. 
This is a shit show from SFC.

[John B]

46 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

I see the West Ham board of directors have got their PR spot on. Told the fans exactly what the plan is and also add offering 30% deductions on season ticket renewals. 
This is a shit show from SFC.

Why is it a shit show from SFC it is a far more complicated situation at St Mary's than at West Ham 

Much depends on the FA Investigation and its outcome I doubt the club would want to keep Tonda if he was found guilty of bullying and other cases of spying came to light

Of course three cases is too much but the cheating is pretty low level and most people think it does guarantee success but Tonda will no doubt get some punishment.

Carrying out the spying during the playoffs was particularly stupid and when we were caught it was pretty obvious that we would be chucked out 

[beatlesaint]

5 hours ago, St. Ciervo said:

What does an FA ban entail? I mean, is it just the touchline on match days? If that is the case, Tonda can run the preparations; the hay is in the barn on match day. He can zoom into the team room at half. We now know the staff is capable of using an iphone. 

To be honest he could run the operation anyway. I mean what are the FA gonna do, confiscate his phone and laptop and ban him from talking to anyone from the club? It’s not bloody school.

It’s like those touchline bans with a manager sat in the stand, that’s totally pointless given the number of staff involved these days.