Pundit fires warning to Sport Republic over Southampton situation involving Tonda Eckert | OneFootball

Tonda Eckert could be appointed as the new Southampton manager

Former EFL forward Sam Parkin has warned Southampton about making Tonda Eckert their manager on a permanent basis.

The Saints are yet to appoint a full-time replacement for Will Still, who was relieved of his managerial duties shortly before the November international break after winning just two of his first 13 Championship matches.

This left the South Coast outfit dwindling towards the bottom of the table, which certainly wasn’t expected in pre-season. Whilst Southampton took their time to find a permanent replacement, U21s boss Tonda Eckert was to oversee the first team.

The 32-year-old wasted no time in getting to work, beating QPR 2-1 on the road before defeating Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 at home. These results carried Southampton away from the bottom of the division and sparked hopes of a comeback up the division.

Gary O’Neil was linked with taking over the role, but outrage from that potential appointment from supporters soon quelled any chances of that happening, whilst Frank Lampard and Mark Robins were both supposedly shortlisted.

Sam Parkin warns Southampton about potential Tonda Eckert appointment

It has since emerged that Eckert could be handed the role on a permanent basis and has been given three further matches to prove his worth.

Whilst results are all that matter at the end of the day, experience is also crucial in the Championship and that is something the 32-year-old is sorely lacking.

Eckert’s ability to become the Saints’ boss was discussed by EFL pundit Sam Parkin on the EFL All Access podcast, where he discussed the pros and cons of making such an appointment for Southampton.

“Tonda Eckert – one thing you can certainly say, despite the opposition probably not being of the highest level, is that he has won two games – QPR, who have been in freefall and obviously against Sheffield Wednesday at home,” stated Parkin.

“But the players are fighting tooth and nail for the interim manager.

“And the other thing going in his favour I think is that he was a club appointment. This wasn’t someone that Will Still brought in. This is someone that externally was felt to have been able to bring something to the club. And plucked and brought in and given a really good position at Southampton.

“So, he seems to have a lot of things or a couple of things very much in his favour.

“But still I think when you think of what the hope would have been and what the expectation among the supporters would have been, which would have been automatic promotion, hell of a gamble, especially with so much of the season still to go.”

Tonda Eckert will face tougher challenges in the next three matches

Eckert’s task ahead of him is clear if he wants to make sure he becomes Southampton manager permanently and it will require him to perform in the next three matches.

Stopping the rot with wins over Sheffield Wednesday and QPR was a vital first step, but it perhaps isn’t enough to decide that he is the man to lead the Saints forward.

However, tests versus Charlton Athletic, Leicester City and Millwall certainly will.

These three teams should make for much harder contests, which will make succeeding even more impressive.

If the 32-year-old can guide Southampton to seven points from that run of matches, it may be enough for him to be awarded the job permanently.