Tonda Eckert: Southampton start season with boss’ future unknown

In short, it will depend on how long the ban is.

Eckert is only contracted at St Mary’s until the end of the current season, and a significant sanction could force the club to look elsewhere for a new head coach.

Group technical director Johannes Spors provided some insight into the board’s current thinking during the recent BBC Radio Solent Southampton FC fans’ forum.

Spors has held his position since 2025 and played a key role in handing Eckert the permanent job as head coach in December last year.

“It all depends on what the outcome is as there are so many uncertainties of how this could look like,” Spors said.

“There is nothing too concrete at the moment, we’re really focused on the here and now and if there is something that we have to deal with then we will deal with it.

“In the back of my mind and in the office we do speak about different scenarios to be prepared for but I still hope for a positive outcome.”

Southampton were preparing for a number of possibilities on their pre-season tour.

During one friendly Eckert watched the game from the stands, and later told the club’s media: “Let’s hope we don’t need it,” when asked about managing the game away from the technical area.

If Eckert were to be banned by the FA, there is no guarantee this would only prevent him from being on the touchline.

“At the moment I’m honestly very positive looking into the next weeks and we have some ideas in mind,” Spors added.

“There was some discussions earlier about how Tonda watched one of the pre-season games from above [in the stands] and we have to think into different scenarios like this.”