Tonda Eckert to leave Southampton? FA taking fresh action amid Spygate scandal | OneFootball

The FA have now started its own investigation into the Saints and their staff.

The fallout from the Spygate saga is in full swing after Southampton's appeal against the decision to expel them from the Championship play-offs was dismissed.

After an independent commission hearing kicked the Saints out of the competition and reinstated Middlesbrough in their place, the South Coast club released an official statement expressing their frustration, which essentially fell on deaf ears.

Attention has now turned to what will happen next at Southampton, with Tonda Eckert's future now in jeopardy, as well as some of his backroom staff.

While the club are set to carry out their own inquest into exactly what happened, the FA are now getting involved, making it a torrid time for the German.

FA opens Southampton investigation as Tonda Eckert set to face charges

Eckert's future at St Mary's Stadium is surely untenable after all the revelations that have emerged from the Spygate scandal this week, with many suggestions indicating that the German will not be able to hold onto his position in the wake of the nation-rocking controversy.

Not only were Southampton found guilty of spying on Middlesbrough's training session, but they also admitted observing Ipswich Town and Oxford United's earlier in the campaign.

Leaked WhatsApp messages did not do Saints' head coach any favours either, as it was reported that two of the club's analysts gave evidence stating they were pushed into two of the spying trips.

Now, the FA has opened an investigation into Southampton regarding Spygate and will decide on the charges against individuals, including Eckert, according to The Times.

They report that the football governing body will focus on any involvement by anyone in a senior position at the club, and if they commissioned the activities, then they can expect to be charged.

The publication adds that the investigation is likely to focus on Eckert and technical director Johannes Spors, as well as William Salt, who was pictured filming Boro's training session.

It has been reported that Eckert could receive a ban of up to 18 months from the FA, which would naturally force Southampton's hand.

As well as any punishment, the 33-year-old could also have his three manager of the month awards taken away from him.

What next for Southampton?

The immediate future is certainly looking bleak for the Saints, with not only their Premier League dreams in tatters but the club's reputation stained.

Firstly, the South Coast club must attempt to turn this situation into a positive and use this opportunity to press the reset button from top to bottom.

It feels only a matter of time until Eckert departs, which feels a shame considering the stellar job he did in turning the club around, but he has played a significant part in this mess.

Then, it would be unsurprising if Southampton's star players were to leave, with Leo Scienza, Shea Charles and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, among others, likely to be in demand for a top-flight move.

That will obviously be disappointing, but Saints supporters are well aware that failing to achieve promotion means losing their best players, while they would generate sizeable funds for a rebuild.

But, with members of the Saints' squad reportedly exploring legal action against the club as a result of lost promotion bonuses and wage increases, it's not only the failure to return to the promised land that could force a potentially messy exodus in the coming weeks and months.

Obviously, there may also be a decision impending from Sport Republic, the club's ownership, who have divided fans since their takeover in 2022, while there is nothing to suggest they will move on.

All in all, it has been a damning couple of weeks for Southampton, but now they must try to find salvation from what has been a truly awful month of May.