Southampton dressing room divide over Tonda Eckert sack decision emerges | OneFootball

Tonda Eckert's future is the subject of intense speculation as the fallout of spygate continues

Southampton are planning for another season in the Championship after they were expelled from the play-offs in a shocking scandal.

The Saints were dismissed from the competition after they admitted to three instances of spying on opposition teams during the season, including their semi-final opponents Middlesbrough.

This scandal has proven very costly for the Hampshire outfit, who have missed out on a chance at promotion to the Premier League after initially making it to the final and will also face a four-point deduction at the start of next term.

Tonda Eckert’s side had gone 19 games unbeaten at the end of the regular campaign to climb to fourth in the table, ahead of Boro due to their superior goal difference.

A 2-1 win over Kim Hellberg’s team had earned the club a place in the final before their expulsion was confirmed, with Hull City ultimately going on to win promotion.

Southampton are now set for a busy summer period as the fallout of this spying scandal drags on.

Southampton dressing room divided on Tonda Eckert

The future of Eckert has been the subject of major speculation in the aftermath of Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs, and it has been suggested that some players are weighing up legal action against the club owing to missed promotion bonuses and wage increases.

According to the Daily Echo, the dressing room will play a key role in determining whether he will stay in charge of the team.

It’s believed that some players are furious with the situation embroiling the club, but others also recognise his talents as a coach.

Solving this divide in the dressing room could prove crucial, with the Saints hoping they can fight for promotion again next season whoever is in the dugout.

The 33-year-old is also facing the prospect of a ban from football, with the Football Association opening an investigation into the incident.

If he is banned from football, then he will be unable to continue on as manager, but until then the decision rests with the Championship side.

It’s been claimed that Southampton are not going to rush into a decision on Eckert’s future as they assess how the players feel.

The club reportedly feels the punishment received from the spying scandal was not proportionate to the offence committed, which is another factor at play in determining the coach’s future.

Eckert took charge of Southampton in November of last year following Will Still’s dismissal, and he guided them from the bottom half of the table into the top six.

The Saints only finished four points adrift of second place Ipswich Town, but will now start next season on a four-point deficit as part of their punishment from the EFL.

It's hard to imagine Tonda Eckert staying at Southampton

While there’s no denying that Southampton earned a lot of positive results last season once Eckert was placed in charge, it’s still difficult to see him staying on as head coach.

The level of fury that some players may feel towards their expulsion from the play-offs could be directed at the German, and that would make it almost impossible for them to work together again.

Southampton have some time to think things over, so it’s right that they’ve not rushed into anything, but it would be quite the U-turn for him to stay after all of this.

If the 33-year-old can repair his relationship with all of the players, then that would be an impressive step towards him keeping his job, although a ban from the FA would render the decision-making process moot.