Southampton used a junior analyst intern to spy on Oxford United's training sessions ahead of their December 26 Championship clash, newly revealed WhatsApp messages show. The intern spent two days at Oxford's training ground after the club sacked Gary Rowett and appointed caretaker Craig Short, gathering intelligence on formations and player availability.

The intern stated they felt compelled to comply due to their position, noting another analyst had already lost their job that season. They transmitted photographs, videos, and updates to Southampton's coaching staff, specifically identifying that Oxford would line up with a back four rather than a back five.

A predicted team sheet based on these observations was sent directly to manager Jan Eckert, complete with "key messages" derived from the covert intelligence. Despite this evidence, Eckert denied viewing the footage during his testimony and claimed it had no bearing on match preparation.

However, WhatsApp communications contradict this stance, with one message explicitly stating: "You legend. Manager loved it." The incident raises serious questions about Southampton's conduct and potential Championship violations, though the league has yet to issue formal sanctions.