(Credit: Imago)

Evan Shaw

Wed 3 June 2026 11:34, UK

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Southampton’s move to point out Middlesbrough’s connections within their Spygate disciplinary panel is very “dangerous” for the EFL.

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the governing body should have made sure their panel were “completely spotless.”

The Saints called out the integrity of the panel in their latest statement on Monday night, as they rasied questions regarding the “consistency” and the “standards of indigence” that are to be expected in hearings like this one.

The South Coast outfit also confirmed that they will be sticking with manager Tonda Eckert, who has since claimed all responsibility for initiating the Spygate saga.

Southampton make ‘valid point’ with EFL accusation – Keith Wyness

Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that Southampton made a “valid point” by pointing out potential bias within the EFL’s panel.

The Scottish businessman made it clear that the Saints have been “their own worst enemy” while the saga has unfolded, and feels that they could have got a different outcome had they handled the issue better in the early stages.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness was keen to stress the importance of the EFL ensuring that such issues with a disciplinary panel do not occur again.

“Southampton are quite right because I’ve got my own experience, not of the EFL panels but of FA panels, where it’s not necessarily examined,” he said.

“Southampton used the words about integrity and saying, look if you’re going to question our integrity, what about your integrity? You’ve got to make sure that your system is completely spotless and not open to any attacks.

“I think that is a valid point because in the FA panels I’ve been involved in, I have seen people with history and with axes to grind, and it’s just so dangerous for these panels to become even tainted by potential bias.

Club statement: 1st June 2026

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) June 1, 2026

“Unfortunately, in the court of public opinion Southampton haven’t got a leg to stand on. The way it’s all come out, the way they tried their initial defence was very cack handed is probably the right way to put it and I think that they were their own worst enemy.”

Tonda Eckert saved by dressing room U-turn

Wyness also told Football Insider that Eckert is a “lucky boy” having avoided the sack at Southampton, and feels that the players are the ones who have saved his job.

He believes that the squad are “united” behind the boss after rumours of them potentially suing the club for lost bonuses have “died down,” leading to the ownership also deciding to show support.

Wyness believes that Eckert owes a “debt of gratitude” to chairman Dragan Solak for allowing him to stay at the helm, but also added that he will now be under major pressure to perform next term.

He noted that the 33-year-old now has a second chance to prove himself, and that is one that he will need to take in oprder to change opinions towards him in 2026-27.