An FA hearing involving Southampton boss Tonda Eckert over the spygate scandal will take place this week.

Disputed Southampton boss Tonda Eckert will face the Football Association (FA) this week over his charges to the spygate scandal.

And the German has pleaded once again for forgiveness, with a potential ban looming ahead of next month’s south-coast derby with Pompey.

The head coach is at the centre of the scandal, which rocked the Championship after the Blues’ fierce rivals admitted to spying on Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Ipswich Town last season.

placeholder image — Tonda Eckert. | Getty Images

Southampton were expelled from the play-offs and docked four points for the new campaign by the EFL, while the FA charged Eckert on three counts of bringing the game into disrepute.

Sky Sports have since revealed a hearing will take place on Thursday regarding the 33-year-old’s charges by English football’s governing body.

A verdict will reportedly be reached before the end of the international break, with the latest south-coast derby against Pompey the first game after the stoppage.

The outcome and size of the punishment could have huge repercussions for Southampton, Eckert and his future at the club, a lengthy ban could lead to his departure from the St Mary’s hot-seat.

Tonda Eckert pleads for ‘forgiveness’ as verdict awaits ahead of Pompey

And after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Wrexham, the German once again pleaded for forgiveness ahead of Thursday’s hearing.

Speaking to BBC Sport, the head coach said: ‘We've talked a lot over the summer of how we want to go through that process of addressing everything, giving everyone the chance to put questions out that are still there, to put out what they feel and have gone through, and then also close the door and move on.

‘Because the reality is it's a new season. We have big ambitions as a football club, and in order to reach them, we need to move on.

‘I've had the chance to sit down and just talk the FA through everything that happened. And now it's up to them to make a decision. I don't really have any emotions towards that.

‘It's been a big, big punishment. Absolutely unheard of in the history of sports.

‘And it's tough for me to say that because it concerns me. I'm judging on myself, not an outside situation. But I've asked for forgiveness for what I've done. I've apologised publicly.

‘I think the punishment has been very hard on the club for the last season. And to go into a new season on minus four. And the rest is not for me to decide.’

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Southampton chief speaks for first time after spygate

Southampton set to learn FA verdict on Tonda Eckert punishment. | Getty Images

Meanwhile, Southampton CEO Phil Parsons - in his first interview since the spygate scandal took place - insists a fresh punishment would be ‘really tough to take’ after last season’s ‘heavy’ sanctions.

He added: ‘It’s going to be really tough to take if we get another on top of being thrown out of the play-offs, (deducted) four points this season following the previous season and potentially more.

‘So, we are really hoping that the FA and the panel are looking at this with a balanced view to what’s already happened because it’s been really heavy.

‘This isn’t just about the football club, this is about people. We lose money not being in the Premier League, but businesses lose money.

‘We had to spend a huge amount on legal fees and it really impacts the club even further.’

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