Ask them about the Pies
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Pies sadly neglected. 
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Details the full forum
6:02pm
06/08/26
THE PANEL ARE HERE
Head coach Tonda Eckert, group sporting director Johannes Spors and chief executive Phil Parsons are here and weāre about to get underway.
6:05pm
06/08/26
TO PP: Where are we with the FA?
We always do a forum and we always try to be honest. With the FA, thereās a process. Thereās nothing happening tomorrow.
Weāll be given a date, and then thereās a follow up period.
Tonda is being asked to focus on football. Everyone is focused.
Weāre probably more together than weāve ever been. We want to get on with it.
Weāve been really pleased with how everyoneās stuck with us.
6:07pm
06/08/26
TO JS: How happy are you with your squad
Iām very happy with where we are with the squad. It was good that we could make some early business.
It sent the right message to everybody inside and to the outside.
Of course, there is work to do. I think weāre in a good place.
6:09pm
06/08/26
TO TE: How much does it mean to you how the players have supported you?
I think the reality is that going into the summer was one of the toughest weeks for everyone in the room.
I do appreciate seeing you all and speaking to you for the first time. The reaction could have been a lot different.
It means a lot to me and I know that the summer could have gone very different.
The feeling is as good as it could be. There are players who have come in in the best shape I have seen them in in a long time.
Iām sure that the players are committed. We have a very strong bond at Staplewood.
6:12pm
06/08/26
To PP: Have others involved in spying missions been dealt with accordingly?
We had to do a process properly to make sure we could answer that question. I donāt think it would be okay to hang Tonda out to dry. He has had a huge amount of support from the club.
There is nothing more in that from what youāve seen.
I donāt think I will ever agree that the punishment fits the crime, but thatās my opinion.
Thatās where we are. I donāt think anyone has been finger pointing at the club. Weāve tried to do it the right way. We were honest from the start, and thatās where we ended up.
It was as surprise to everyone, but we have to move on.
I think weāve shown togetherness. I think you guys have been incredible.
We have to stay focused now going forward. There is nothing more when it comes to allegations on spying.
6:13pm
06/08/26
The same question to JS
We had a lot of discussions internally. What I can say now coming back is that we feel we have a group that have a great commitment, togetherness and we went through the processes and learned.
6:14pm
06/08/26
To TE: How much does it mean that you werenāt sacked?
I think the ownership has every right to take consequences. The reality also is that I think there has been a lot out in the media and I havenāt done any interviews and Iāve been outed in an image that isnāt true.
6:19pm
06/08/26
More from PP on Spygate
It was very quick when it came. When we first got notification, there was three hours to respond.
I think one of the main things speaking to the EFL, it was made out to be a lot smaller by them and we were working with them.
I donāt think we had a clear view of is this going to be a Middlesbrough tactic at the time.
Itās difficult because it was a big legal process and everyone had an opinion about what should happen with Southampton.
We had certain levels of advice of what we could and couldnāt say.
Would we have done the same as Middlesbrough? Potentially.
We essentially lost a legal battle that went on and an appeal. I think we were very clear behind the scenes that you canāt come out and talk about where you are in a legal process.
Weāre not a huge team at Southampton so we had external lawyers.
Iām not sure what more I can give on that topic.
6:22pm
06/08/26
What is the long term goal for the club?
PP: There has been a huge amount of work when it comes to sustainability in football. Itās tougher in the Championship.
Yes, number one is get back to the Premier League as soon as possible. TV revenue, sponsorships are a lot more.
Longer term, weāve been quite open to a lot of closed groups. Youāve seen a lot of small things around the stadium to keep our revenue out.
Itās our last year of parachutes. You get two when youāve been in the Premier League for a year.
Weāre not ready to share some real estate plans just yet which would be one of the biggest around the stadium in the UK.
We do a lot of work with Southampton City Council and hopefully weāll be in a position in the next 12 to 18 months to share those plans.
I think there are more plans in the background than there ever have been at this football club.
6:26pm
06/08/26
Why were season ticket prices increased?
PP:I think itās a really fair question. When we look at prices and season ticket prices, again if we go backwards, around 10 years ago, our revenue of tickets has gone down.
Our revenue stream through tickets is our most important. When we break it down per game, I think they went up Ā£1.20 on average.
Weāve invested a lot into the stadium. Iāve spoken to a lot of fans who think itās fair, others who donāt.
I appreciate thereās frustration around it, but we always think whatās the fairest thing for the club.
6:28pm
06/08/26
TE on last season not being a waste: Well maybe if I can refer to that last chapter. I understand that it feels like there is a page being ripped out of the book. But I hope we believe that itās just going to take us 10 months longer to get to the final chapter.
When you take the book as a metaphor, I donāt think itās written to the last page yet.
I think weāve given you some proud moments in the last season and weāll do everything to continue that.
6:29pm
06/08/26
JS on knowing Tonda Eckert:
Itās no secret that Iāve known Tonda for a long time. From the beginning, this was a decision to turn around the season because I think Tonda brings the skills and quality to bring people together and turn around results.
Thereās a risk with every decision. You donāt know how the players react, how quickly it goes.
6:32pm
06/08/26
Question on Ross Stewart
JS: At the end of the season, it was very important for me that we opened up the conversation to players who could say.
We wanted players who wanted to be here. Cyle, George and Daniel did. Ross didnāt. He was in a situation where he wanted to look at other options which is fair. Thatās why he decided not to continue with us.
There is some technicality behind that (five day rule) but I wanted every player to be committed to us.
TE: I only have positive things to say about him. It wasnāt easy to get him back fit. I think we found a very good model with him. I think, for him it has gone as well as it can with the consequence of going to the World Cup.
We have stayed in touch over the summer but he has decided to go elsewhere.
6:32pm
06/08/26
JS: We are really looking to that position. We will do something on the striker position.
6:35pm
06/08/26
PP: The next kit will be out tomorrow at 10am.
6:37pm
06/08/26
How confident are you on keeping key players?
JS: Iām confident that we can keep a very strong team. We have now a very strong team.
Itās the reality that we have to work on some transfer revenues. Itās always our job to replace players with other good players.
I think it can be a strength of us that we are going into a second season together as a core. It allows us hopefully to have a successful season.
6:38pm
06/08/26
JS: I think itās about the right size of the squad. When I arrived, the squad was too big.
In January, I think one of the key things that helped us was the size of the squad. The roles of players.
There is some business to do. We will reduce the general size of the squad compared to today, definitely.
6:40pm
06/08/26
TE: As long as they have a contract with us, they will get absolutely everything from us.
There were some decisions from when I was not in charge where we could bring back some players in the second half of last season.
I do expect the squad to be smaller than it is at the moment.
Iām sure that we will have a very good squad for the start of the season.
6:41pm
06/08/26
Is it fair that minimum goal is top two for Saints this year?
TE: We want to get promoted this year. If that is winning the league or finishing second, we want to go for the maximum. We want to talk about a Premier League campaign in 12 months time.
I think weāve shown what we are capable of doing in the last months.
6:43pm
06/08/26
Will we see a lot of young talent come through this season?
TE: When I came in to manage the under 21s, I obviously came to first team games. When academy players come on, it feels different.
We do everything to bring boys through. Itās a bit easier in the Championship than it is in the Premier League because of the level.
6:44pm
06/08/26
On Jay Robinson
JS: It was a long discussion to be honest. It wasnāt an easy yes or no. I think we have responsibility of the development of his career.
We saw that he didnāt get the minutes he needs to take the next step. There is now a chance for him to go to a top five league and get more minutes and get experience of a new environment.
We want to develop his long term career.
6:46pm
06/08/26
On other positions
JS: I donāt think we have specific positions. The squad is a little big. The striker position is really obvious, then it is to react in the market.
We are always in the market for opportunities. Sometimes things come on the table that you didnāt see coming.
6:47pm
06/08/26
If Shea Charles gets sold, can he be replaced?
TE: I think with the pre-season games, we have given the chance to many players to show where theyāre at. I think the academy is exciting. Iām very positive with the impressions that the boys have made.
Iām sure they will have chances to present themselves. Weāll make a decision on if thereās enough to get promoted or we need more.
6:49pm
06/08/26
Can Cyle Larin play more minutes this season?
TE: If you go back to Cyle coming back in January, he hasnāt come off an easy situation. As much as you want players to do minutes straight away, thereās a big chance of them breaking down quickly.
I think weāve found a good model.
Cyle is a lot further than he was in January. But if I compare him to how he came into the building now to January, heās a different player.
I still think itās a priority for us to bring in a striker.
6:51pm
06/08/26
How has your first pre-season gone?
TE: Very hot. I think it depends on where you start. I think itās good for us to have a core. Some of the players know what to do. We are a lot further down the line. We obviously have a lot of players coming back from loan. Lewis Dobbin has come in and needs to get used to some things we do on the pitch.
Iām very happy to play that game on Saturday. We will go very strong.
6:53pm
06/08/26
On Brereton Diazās minutes in pre-season
TE: Weāve had a conversation when he came back. I know that there are a lot of Championship clubs that would love to have him.
Weāve been very open to see how he feels. I think he has a good connection with a lot of his teammates.
We slowly needed to find a way to give him the minutes because he was coming back from an injury.
Heāll get minutes on Saturday but so far I think heās been very positive.
6:54pm
06/08/26
What happens if Tonda is banned?
JS: That really does depend on what is the outcome. There are so many uncertainties of what this could look like. Iām very positive at the moment. We have to think in two different scenarios but nothing too concrete at the moment. Weāre really focused on the here and now, but if there is something that we have to do, we will deal with it.
6:57pm
06/08/26
Whoās going to be at the forefront driving the players?
TE: Jack obviously knows the club inside out. Thereās a very strong relationship to the football club. I think you can see how much it means to him.
I think Taylor has stepped up this year. I couldnāt be happier with how he has stepped up in terms of leadership.
I think they compliment each other very well.
I think it is tough to find a player more positive than Daniel [Peretz]. Heās involved in the dressing room and a strong character.
I think James Bree has made a clear commitment at a peak age. I think Flynn Downes is in a very good moment.
Thereās more than enough players that we can lean on. The base is very strong going into next season.
6:58pm
06/08/26
How do you feel going into the season?
TE:Yeah, finally. Iāve said this to the players. These pre-season games are nice but you have to manage minutes. The week has been that weāve prepared for the game. Weāve prepared for Colchester in detail so the players know whatās coming up.
6:59pm
06/08/26
Same question to PP: My feeling is if we start well, momentum kicks in. We will have some blips but we ask to keep with us because it feeds through the club. We seem to be that club that everyone hates this year, and I donāt really care.
Weāve got great support. So please stick with us.
7:00pm
06/08/26
And thatās that.
As expected, plenty on Spygate, a bit on tickets and transfers and then a few questions on the upcoming season.
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I was also interested about proposed development around the stadium. South of the Chapel end, since the fire thereās a large vacant site and maybe final movement in development between the stadium and the River Itchen.
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I like itā¦as a training top
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True.
And it might look good on Telly, but it isnāt us.
Bring back Gay Pink I say .
Favourite comments on the app:
- Looks like a bus seat cover
- Looks like the aftermath of a heavy night out
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what the fuck is that monstrosity?
What?
You mean youāre the only fan that hasnāt ordered our new 2nd Away Kit?
It does look like the bluestar bus seat cover! 
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Until the FA shaft us up the ass without any lubeā¦
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Carabao Cup 2nd round, home to West Ham
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Reminds me of the sheen you get on water where thereās a fuckton of spilled marine diesel- pretty apt given the sponsorā¦.
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Ably assisted by SO5 (Keith) formerly of this parish.
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Anyone?
https://x.com/AlfieHouseEcho/status/2097490463410274410
Hmm can Ramsdale pass the ball?