Where AI thinks Southampton would finish if Rob Edwards replaced Tonda Eckert | OneFootball

AI predicts where the Saints will finish at the end of the season under Rob Edwards, should he take over from Tonda Eckert.

Southampton have made an overly positive start to the 2026-27 Championship campaign, but there’s more concern about what’s happening off the pitch.

The Saints started the season on -4 points following their deduction from the EFL for ‘Spygate’, but now sit 13th in the standings with 10 points to their name after the opening eight league matches.

Just three points off the play-offs, the South Coast-based outfit will be hopeful of making a charge into the promotion places when domestic action returns, although concern remains about who will lead them over the long-term future, with Tonda Eckert still awaiting what his punishment will be for his involvement in ‘Spygate’ at the back end of last season.

If a lengthy ban was to be handed out, then Southampton would have to pursue appointing an interim boss to lead the side for the duration of how long Eckert is out for, which could have a massive impact on how the Saints’ season transpires.

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If Tonda Eckert was to be handed a ban from management for his involvement in ‘Spygate’, a report from The Telegraph has detailed that the Saints would line up Rob Edwards as an interim appointment.

Edwards is out of work following his shocking and untimely sacking at Wolves shortly before the start of the new Championship season and has since been seen completing occasional punditry duties for Sky Sports.

The 43-year-old has notably amassed a good deal of experience in the dugout at Championship level, helping Luton Town gain promotion to the Premier League, while also having short stints at both Watford and Middlesbrough, leaving the latter when top of the division to originally take up his last role at Molineux.

AI predicts Southampton to finish 4th should Rob Edwards replace Tonda Eckert

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When it comes to Rob Edwards potentially replacing Tonda Eckert in the Southampton dugout, AI is overly optimistic about their chances of promotion back to the Premier League under his guidance.

So much so that AI has predicted Southampton to finish fourth at the end of the 2026-27 term with Edwards at the helm.

AI has admitted that Southampton are already showing signs of a promotion-contending side, highlighting that the Saints would be fourth in the division currently without their -4 deduction at the start of the campaign, while they have already netted 19 goals so far this season, stats that would be comfortable to inherit and keep at similar levels.

AI also believes Southampton would be situated towards the top end of the table due to Edwards’ ability to win promotion out of the Championship. It has stated that he knows the demands of the division and what it takes to be successful, while also noting the instant impact he had at Middlesbrough – something he will have to replicate on the South Coast if he landed the interim position.

However, AI has listed a couple of reasons as to why Southampton may just finish short in their quest for automatic promotion.

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It has listed the fact that the Saints have already conceded 10 goals so far this season, while their away form has been a cause for concern in contrast to their strong foundations at home. AI believes Edwards could partially improve this, but that some of their defensive frailties could well remain, hindering their ability to remain exceptionally consistent that would help them finish inside those top two spots.

Meanwhile, it’s also noted how a mid-season change on the managerial front could bring its own uncertainty.

Edwards would have limited time to implement his own methods and would inherit a squad assembled and coached under another regime, and that bit of time needed to get used to the changes could be what prevents the Saints from avoiding the lottery of the play-offs.

In spite of that, AI believes Southampton’s potency in forward areas and consistent form on home soil makes them a solid outfit at Championship level. Pairing that with Edwards’ ability to deliver promotion and taste success at this level means they hold a strong chance of finishing inside the play-offs and having a fresh chance at ending their three-year exodus from the big time.

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If Tonda Eckert was banned for a substantial period of time, then Rob Edwards would be one of the top candidates to replace him on an interim basis given his Championship pedigree.

Clearly, there are some differences in how the Welshman and Eckert operate, as the former prefers three at the back, while the latter has now adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Meanwhile, Southampton would be a more dominant ball-possessing side, whereas in Edwards’ roles at Wolves and Luton Town in particular, they had less of the ball in the Premier League.

But there can be no doubting the quality of his CV, with Edwards going on to deliver promotion at this level and consistently have teams situated towards the top end of the division, and there’s no reason why he couldn’t follow suit at Southampton given the attacking talent he would take on.

On a short-term basis, for a team aiming for promotion, this decision will be so vital to the way the Saints’ season will unfold, but there will not be many better options than Edwards given what he has achieved so far in his managerial career.