Now Southampton offer Spygate intern, 23, permanent role at the club – after he insisted he was acting on orders from above

Southampton have offered a permanent role to trainee Will Salt, who was caught up in the Spygate scandal.

The youngster was spotted by Middlesbrough filming a training session ahead of the Championship play-off semi-final and following revelations in Daily Mail Sport the Saints were eventually eliminated from the competition.

There was considerable sympathy for Salt, who said he had no opportunity to say no to an EFL panel and was acting on the instructions of those above. And Daily Mail Sport understands the 23-year-old has now been offered a role in the club’s academy.

The full extent of Southampton’s ruse was revealed in May, when the club’s written reasons for the unsuccessful appeal against their expulsion were revealed, with manager Tonda Eckert in attendance. So did the club’s efforts to cover up its espionage activities, which went beyond the Middlesbrough incident.

Manager Tonda Eckert apologized for her role in scandal but retained her role at Saints

WhatsApp messages obtained during the EFL investigation reveal how Salt was told ‘You’re a legend’. After a spy mission against Oxford United in December, the manager loved it.

Eckert’s position came under intense scrutiny, and after being backed by owner Dragan Solak, he issued a remarkable eight-minute apology for the scandal.

Eckert said: ‘Hello, Saints supporters. What I say will not be perfect, but I will try to be as honest and open as I can.

‘I think you deserve it. I want to apologize for everything that happened and I raise my hand because as a head coach I am responsible for this.

‘I am responsible for everything that happens at this football club. ‘I’m responsible for everything that happens with my coaching staff.’