Should Saints Sack Tonda?

[BARCELONASAINT]

2 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

And if you believe that you'll believe anything. 

who the hell bloody cares apart from the namby pamby British who get worked up about the slightest thing!

There's a drop of rain.....quick build an Ark the floods are coming.

There's some nice sunny weather....oh fuck we are going to end up like the surface of Mars by Christmas

FFS!

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

And if you believe that you'll believe anything. 

You know as much as anyone else.

[Lard]

If,and a big if, the players that remain give vocal support for Tonda to stay,I’m all for it. (FA investigation allowing). 
I think there will be a siege mentality if so. 
We are going to get vast amounts of vitriol thrown at us and I think that could work in our favour under Eckhert at the helm.
The desire to prove our detractors wrong will be massive,and that needs to come from the top. 
someone who understands what this seasons complete cock up means and wants to put it right. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Lard

[Weston Super Saint]

13 minutes ago, Lard said:

If,and a big if, the players that remain give vocal support for Tonda to stay,I’m all for it. (FA investigation allowing). 
I think there will be a siege mentality if so. 
We are going to get vast amounts of vitriol thrown at us and I think that could work in our favour under Eckhert at the helm.
The desire to prove our detractors wrong will be massive,and that needs to come from the top. 
someone who understands what this seasons complete cock up means and wants to put it right. 

No we won't.  Boro will do some pathetic moaning and acting the victim.  I guarantee the rest of the league will have light hearted banter, plastic binoculars, maybe some blow up palm trees to hide behind, but after the first round of games that will die out.  The vast majority of the footballing world thinks this is comical and really aren't upset at all!

[VectisSaint]

1 hour ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Pretty sure the FA insists that ALL clubs have an anti bullying policy and requires the clubs to investigate incidents not the FA themselves...  Otherwise they could be tied up investigating incidents between fuckwit FC and back of beyond united!!

They do, but when a complaint is made or reported to the FA then the FA will investigate. As I understand it, if a complaint was made at all, it was reported by the EFL. Of course for all I know no complaint has been made but them's the rumours and usually there is no smoke without fire.

In 2018 the FA ran an investigation into allegations of bullying made against head of strategy and performance Dave Reddin. The outcome was that there was no issue, but they took it seriously enough.

Edited 5 hours ago by VectisSaint
Added the Reddin case

[PerthshireSaint]

Has Carbonara signed yet ?

[saintant]

1 hour ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

This is the press article relayed by JustSaint:

Southampton stars want Tonda Eckert to STAY despite Spygate costing club £215m – but he still could be sacked or banned

Justin Allen , Chief EFL Writer

Published: 12:31, 29 May 2026

Updated: 12:45, 29 May 2026

SOUTHAMPTON players want Tonda Eckert to stay on as manager despite the Spygate saga costing them Premier League football.

The 33-year-old German boss led the Saints to a 21-game unbeaten run but the club were expelled from the play-off final after a club analyst was caught spying on a Middlesbrough training session.

It also emerged the south coast team had snooped on Ipswich and Oxford.

Boro, who they beat in the semi-finals, were reinstated to the play-off final where they were beaten by Hull.

Sources have revealed to SunSport that the majority of the Southampton squad gave Eckert their backing at a team meeting held last week at the training ground.

One Saints insider said: “Most of the squad have given Tonda an overwhelmingly positive reaction despite what happened.

“Not everyone was completely happy, of course, but the majority of them believe keeping Tonda as manager gives them the best possible chance of getting promoted to the Premier League next season.”

But Eckert’s future remains uncertain.

Southampton bigwigs are yet to decide whether they want him to remain — and could yet sack him.

The German also faces potential FA charges, which could even see him banned from coaching for 18 months.

He admitted breaking EFL regulations – but maintains he did not know football espionage was against the rules in this country as the practice is widespread across Europe where he has previously worked.

SunSport understands that Eckert did not personally initiate the controversial spying plan — but was aware and authorised it due to his ignorance of the EFL rules.

Southampton fans have been in uproar and the club reached out to them with a statement last week — insisting they will repair broken trust.

Club chiefs are furious because promotion would have landed them a £215MILLION windfall.

Saints chief said in their statement: “Southampton Football Club has a proud history and strong foundations, but it is clear that trust now needs to be rebuilt. That work begins immediately

“The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly.

“While [this] is a painful moment, this football club will respond with humility, accountability and determination to put things right.”

Wonder which players were in the minority camp that did not support him continuing.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Who are the ones that think he’s a nob? 🤣

[ChristopheVAFC]

As the days go by, I'm increasingly convinced Tonda has a chance of staying next season despite the controversy.

His record speaks for itself; he's managed to bring a new dynamic to the team. Today, the press is reporting that the majority of players want him to stay, and I've also read that Tonda is now highly sought after in other countries, where clubs would be ready to sign him if he were dismissed.

One thing to watch is the FA investigation, which could potentially jeopardize Tonda's position on the bench.

If I had to give my prediction today: 60% chance he stays and 40% chance he leaves.

To be continued!

[sadoldgit]

It seems that most of the players support him.

[Saint86]

20 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

As the days go by, I'm increasingly convinced Tonda has a chance of staying next season despite the controversy.

His record speaks for itself; he's managed to bring a new dynamic to the team. Today, the press is reporting that the majority of players want him to stay, and I've also read that Tonda is now highly sought after in other countries, where clubs would be ready to sign him if he were dismissed.

One thing to watch is the FA investigation, which could potentially jeopardize Tonda's position on the bench.

If I had to give my prediction today: 60% chance he stays and 40% chance he leaves.

To be continued!

Sadly my friend, it's more likely than not that the FA will use this chance to go in two footed on saints (and therefore look like they are doing something to protect the game), because they won't tackle serious offenders (due to corruption or cowardice). Smaller and less connected clubs have always been easy pickings in the UK, and saints have never been that well liked by the establishment. I have been one of the most vocal for tonda to stay, but even I expect deep down for us to get bent over... And with that, I fully expect the FA to drag it out as long as possible and blow up our summer / pre season plans. Wouldn't be that  surprised if they go after spors, or even try to install an external over sight committee of our scouting/analytics departments to boot.

Blood is in the water, saints look weak and vulnerable, people will take us for all they can in any aspect of the footballing world. It's on the club to be robust and stand up to that, and so far there have been precious few signs of that happening (at least that we can publically see).

(I'm a cheerful soul aren't I 🤣🫣)

Edited 5 hours ago by Saint86

[ChristopheVAFC]

10 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Sadly my friend, it's more likely than not that the FA will use this chance to go in two footed on saints (and therefore look like they are doing something to protect the game), because they won't tackle serious offenders (due to corruption or cowardice). Smaller and less connected clubs have always been easy pickings in the UK, and saints have never been that well liked by the establishment. I have been one of the most vocal for tonda to stay, but even I expect deep down for us to get bent over... And with that, I fully expect the FA to drag it out as long as possible and blow up our summer / pre season plans. Wouldn't be that  surprised if they go after spors, or even try to install an external over sight committee of our scouting/analytics departments to boot.

Blood is in the water, saints look weak and vulnerable, people will take us for all they can in any aspect of the footballing world. It's on the club to be robust and stand up to that, and so far there have been precious few signs of that happening (at least that we can publically see).

(I'm a cheerful soul aren't I 🤣🫣)

My friend, that’s precisely the question mark hanging over Tonda; the FA’s investigation could turn things on their head and see Tonda banned for 18 months from sitting on a football dugout, which would allow them to show everyone that the governing body won’t be doing anyone any favours.

Even though the prevailing view among the Saints’ supporters is that Tonda should stay on, it remains to be seen what will happen in the coming weeks.

We’ll also need to keep an eye on the decision by the board and the club’s management, as they wrote in the statement: “But it is clear that trust must now be rebuilt. This work begins immediately. The club will reflect carefully on the events that have led up to this point, learn from them and take the necessary steps to move forward responsibly.”

You are right to take all this in your stride; the damage is done and it is now time to move on for the sake of your club’s great history. 

[qwertyell]

On 27/05/2026 at 16:18, qwertyell said:

The way the club is run, I could certainly believe everyone has fucked off on holiday and they'll "figure it all out" when they return for pre-season. 

Quote

PP is on leave this week as are a lot of people connected with the club as its half-term and traditionally a quiet week for football at the season's end

I was joking, by the way. 

[trousers]

15 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Sadly my friend, it's more likely than not that the FA will use this chance to go in two footed on saints (and therefore look like they are doing something to protect the game), because they won't tackle serious offenders (due to corruption or cowardice). Smaller and less connected clubs have always been easy pickings in the UK, and saints have never been that well liked by the establishment. I have been one of the most vocal for tonda to stay, but even I expect deep down for us to get bent over... And with that, I fully expect the FA to drag it out as long as possible and blow up our summer / pre season plans. Wouldn't be that  surprised if they go after spors, or even try to install an external over sight committee of our scouting/analytics departments to boot.

Blood is in the water, saints look weak and vulnerable, people will take us for all they can in any aspect of the footballing world. It's on the club to be robust and stand up to that, and so far there have been precious few signs of that happening (at least that we can publically see).

(I'm a cheerful soul aren't I 🤣🫣)

If they do, and it transpires that Eckert's discretions were no worse than Bielsa's (the activity thereof, not which unfit-for-purpose EFL rules happened to be in place at the time), then I hope we've still got the likes of Lord Pannick on stand by to pull the FA up on their inconsistencies. Hell, here's an idea... Maybe we should hire the De Marco legal fella that pulled the strings for Middlesbrough against us... That would be a plot twist and a half!

Edited 4 hours ago by trousers

[qwertyell]

.

Edited 4 hours ago by qwertyell
double post

[LaptopSaint]

As I understand it we now have some serious lawyers on the case, who will take no shit on our behalf. Not before time. 
Nevertheless, tick tock SFC. That’s another week of complete silence gone by. You’d better have a pretty large hand grenade to throw when you emerge from the bunker. 

[Teamsaint1]

So what grounds would the FA need to have to give TE a lengthy ban ?
Wouldn’t they risk being in contravention of employment rights at some point ? 

[Hawkswood]

7 hours ago, Nordic Saint said:

Bielsa was rewarded with the FIFA Fair Play Award at the end of that season, and given the EFL Championship Manager of the Year award the following season.

Is that true ?

[Lord Duckhunter]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

and saints have never been that well liked by the establishment.

What a load of old pony….

[bugenhagen]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Sadly my friend, it's more likely than not that the FA will use this chance to go in two footed on saints (and therefore look like they are doing something to protect the game), because they won't tackle serious offenders (due to corruption or cowardice). Smaller and less connected clubs have always been easy pickings in the UK, and saints have never been that well liked by the establishment. I have been one of the most vocal for tonda to stay, but even I expect deep down for us to get bent over... And with that, I fully expect the FA to drag it out as long as possible and blow up our summer / pre season plans. Wouldn't be that  surprised if they go after spors, or even try to install an external over sight committee of our scouting/analytics departments to boot.

Blood is in the water, saints look weak and vulnerable, people will take us for all they can in any aspect of the footballing world. It's on the club to be robust and stand up to that, and so far there have been precious few signs of that happening (at least that we can publically see).

(I'm a cheerful soul aren't I 🤣🫣)

I agree with you, and I don't think Tonda will be our manager next season even if the players, club and many supporters (including myself) want him.

The interesting part is that the club has begun to leak stories like "the players are behind Tonda" and "Tonda was not the instigator". I guess they are trying to sway the narrative to better suit what they want/plan (Tonda to stay).

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

40 minutes ago, bugenhagen said:

I agree with you, and I don't think Tonda will be our manager next season even if the players, club and many supporters (including myself) want him.

The interesting part is that the club has begun to leak stories like "the players are behind Tonda" and "Tonda was not the instigator". I guess they are trying to sway the narrative to better suit what they want/plan (Tonda to stay).

If they want Tonda to stay, they'll need to do a lot more than that. The FA will be considerably more concerned if the SFC lawyers release statements along the lines of they are preparing a civil case for tens of millions against the EFL due to loss of potential revenue, damaging the SR image, not following due process etc etc.

[bugenhagen]

24 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

If they want Tonda to stay, they'll need to do a lot more than that. The FA will be considerably more concerned if the SFC lawyers release statements along the lines of they are preparing a civil case for tens of millions against the EFL due to loss of potential revenue, damaging the SR image, not following due process etc etc.

We probably won't hear anything about the FA investigation and potential lawsuit until after the FA have given their verdict.

So we will plan with Tonda as manager until the FA gives him a ban, and then we will continue to plan with Tonda as we go through appeal etc, and by the time all that is over, the season has started and we have again promoted a new manager from within (Garner or Lallana)...

SR don't need no help damaging their image! 😉

[Cuddles]

13 minutes ago, bugenhagen said:

We probably won't hear anything about the FA investigation and potential lawsuit until after the FA have given their verdict.

So we will plan with Tonda as manager until the FA gives him a ban, and then we will continue to plan with Tonda as we go through appeal etc, and by the time all that is over, the season has started and we have again promoted a new manager from within (Garner or Lallana)...

SR don't need no help damaging their image! 😉

Are you on the board? #itk

[Dark Munster]

3 hours ago, LaptopSaint said:

As I understand it we now have some serious lawyers on the case, who will take no shit on our behalf. Not before time. 
Nevertheless, tick tock SFC. That’s another week of complete silence gone by. You’d better have a pretty large hand grenade to throw when you emerge from the bunker. 

I hope that's true. Source?