Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert says reports surrounding the club’s “Spygate” scandal have created a misleading public impression of his role. He remains in post despite the club’s punishment and an ongoing Football Association misconduct investigation, saying owner Dragan Solak considered the facts rather than public opinion.

Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May after being found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough during training, despite beating them in the semi-finals. The club was also found to have spied on two other opponents; Eckert said he would have accepted dismissal, but Solak confirmed in June that he would not sack him.