Controversial Southampton boss facing Spygate verdict set to decide his future ahead of Portsmouth showdown
There could be movement over the FA charge on the Southampton boss - one which may have huge repercussions for his future with Pompey’s fierce rivals ahead of the south-coast derby.
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert could be set to face his Spygate fate over the international break, according to reports.
And that could conceivably lead to Eckert leaving Pompey’s fierce rivals, with the south-coast derby on the horizon.
Southampton awaiting FA decision which could decide Eckert’s future
The German, of course, is at the heart of the Spygate scandal which led to his team being expelled from the Championship play-offs in May and deducted four points this term.
That’s after they admitted to spying on three teams - Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town and Oxford United - last season.
The scandal rocked football and led to widespread condemnation for Eckert, leaving a deep stain on his club’s standing in the game.
The 33-year-old was then hit with a misconduct charge by the FA in July, with the outcome of that scenario still unknown.
There is now a suggestion a hearing could take place over the upcoming international break, which precedes Pompey’s trip to St Mary’s Stadium on October 11.
That’s according to the Southern Daily Echo, who say staff at the club are expecting movement over that situation, across the three-week pause to Championship football.
The outcome and size of the punishment could have huge repercussions for Southampton, Eckert and his future at the club.
A lengthy ban could leave to his departure from his head coach position, with there a precedent for punishments over spying on opposition.
That comes in the shape of former Canada manager Bev Priestman, who was banned for a year by Fifa after two of her staff used a drone to spy on an opponent at the Paris Olympics.
Eckert has addressed the continuing uncertainty around the potential punishment, with his team starting the campaign in strong form.
They have wiped out their four-point loss and sit eighth in the Championship on 10 points - four points off leaders West Ham.
Eckert told the Southern Daily Echo: 'As much as it's going on in the background, I never want to make these games about me because they aren't and they never will be.
'It's about the football club, and we have another home game to play that is very important to us. Then it's another four weeks until the derby.
'What happens in between happens, but my only job is to make sure this football club puts another three points on the board tomorrow.'