Major Southampton manager update involving Tonda Eckert | OneFootball

Southampton are said to be working towards appointing Tonda Eckert permanently

Southampton are reportedly working to appoint interim boss Tonda Eckert as their new permanent manager.

This comes from a report from the Southern Daily Echo, who reveal that, whilst a deal isn't finalised just yet, the Saints are looking to proceed with the 32-year-old as their new head coach after a successful interim spell.

Eckert was brought in as the head coach of the Under-21s this summer, but after Will Still was dismissed in early November, the German was handed the reins on an interim basis.

After four consecutive wins and a late loss in their most recent game against Millwall, Southampton are keen to give him the full-time job.

Southampton working towards Tonda Eckert appointment

Southampton have enjoyed an upturn in results since Tonda Eckert took over on an interim basis, and according to the Southern Daily Echo, 12 points out of a possible 15 have been enough for Sport Republic to want to give the 32-year-old the permanent role.

The Saints have been patient in hiring Will Still's successor, with it being over a month now since the highly-rated Belgian manager was dismissed following just two wins in 13 Championship games.

That left Southampton in 21st place, but four wins in five under Eckert since then have moved the recently relegated Premier League side within five points of the top six.

The 32-year-old is a popular member of the dressing room. The Echo's report also states that many Southampton stars have welcomed his managerial style, and influential winger Leo Scienza has publicly said: "Give the man the job."

Sources from Southampton have stressed that nothing is signed or finalised, but Eckert is still expected to deliver his pre-Birmingham City press conference on Friday morning and take the game on Saturday.

There hasn't been any haste thus far, so it's expected that some time will be taken still for all the creases to be ironed out ahead of Eckert's promotion.

Tonda Eckert has earned his role as Southampton manager

All roads now seem to point to Tonda Eckert being named the new Southampton manager. A month ago, the 32-year-old was widely unknown, but his work over the last five games means that an imminent announcement is more than deserved.

This is set to be Eckert's first senior managerial role, having spent time as an assistant at Genoa in Serie A, alongside periods as an assistant at Burnley and roles in the youth teams at Bayern Munich and RB Salzburg before he moved to St Mary's in the summer.

Whilst this may seem a risk, the 32-year-old has proven over his time as interim manager that he's ready for the step-up, taking the pressure off a Southampton side with high expectations and turning good performances into the good results which evaded Will Still during his five months in charge.

Birmingham make the trip to St Mary's this weekend, meaning there's a big opportunity for the Saints to close the gap between themselves and those on the periphery of the play-offs even further.