Charlie Austin makes FA plea over Southampton's Tonda Eckert ban | OneFootball

The former Saints striker has pleaded with the FA not to go too far over the German.

With Tonda Eckert's FA hearing scheduled for tomorrow, it will not be long until the German discovers the extent of any punishment he is likely to receive.

It has been almost five months since the Spygate incident rocked football, with Southampton expelled from the Championship play-offs and given a four-point deduction for this season.

The hearing this Thursday will decide what punishment Eckert will receive, and he could be hit with anything from a fine to a ban from football entirely.

Now, former Saints striker Charlie Austin has chimed in with his opinion on the matter and has stressed the importance of not ruining the 33-year-old's career.

Charlie Austin calls for fair Tonda Eckert punishment

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Southampton entered the international break in an encouraging mid-table position and would be in the play-off places if it were not for their points deduction.

The home defeat to Wrexham was a tough one to take, especially as Phil Parkinson's side claimed a late victory courtesy of a late Keven Schlotterbeck own goal.

Now, everyone associated with the South Coast club awaits the outcome of Eckert's FA hearing, although it is unknown how long we will have to wait for any announcement.

"I think we should just move on," Austin told The Sun.

"The punishment has been done. They got taken out of this game, which is worth millions.

"Eckert is a young coach. He made a mistake, he’s admitted he’s made a mistake, and he’s learned from it.

"Just let him get on with his career now. It’s ridiculous this has been dragged out further.

"We’re talking about minus four points they were docked but because they’ve started the season brilliantly that has become an irrelevance.

"The FA need to put this to bed — and let Eckert and Southampton get on with their lives."

What could Eckert's punishment be?

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It is worth remembering that when Southampton's play-off fate was decided, the most extreme measures were taken to set an example, so will Eckert receive the same treatment?

The consensus is that the German will receive a punishment, but a touchline ban or a ban from football entirely are two very different punishments that would pose contrasting consequences.

The same article by The Sun reports that it understands from sources at the club that there is a real concern that the FA might go for the nuclear six-month ban.

While that is just a concern, and it is from a source at the club rather than close to the FA, if the club's punishment were anything to go by, then that worry is reasonable.

Could Eckert lose his job after FA punishment?

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Saints owner Dragan Solak publicly backed Eckert over the summer and essentially gave him the benefit of the doubt over what happened, which was a huge confidence boost to the 33-year-old.

However, if Southampton's head coach were to be handed a ban from football operations entirely, then he may not even be able to take training, let alone manage from the touchline.

That would leave Solak in an incredibly difficult position as, although he clearly wants the German to stay on, he may have no choice but to sack him.