Tonda Eckert

[Toadhall Saint]

Just now, revolution saint said:

Bit difficult to do that when you have admitted guilt though.

It will be the timeframe not the admission.

[AlexLaw76]

8 minutes ago, Tamesaint said:

Why on earth would he walk??

I would like to think that Dragan knows a few good lawyers. If man city's can kick their charges into the long grass for year after year, so can Dragan's.

 

He offered his resignation previously. I can’t see him just sat around for 6 months unemployed, when I am sure he would fancy a job in Europe.

 

[SNSUN]

I think it will be a games ban not a months ban, maybe 10 games or so. We've already been punished hard but I think the FA will still want to make an example of him. We're Saints, we rarely get things going well for us which why I don't think it will be a fine or a small ban. 

Either way, as I said earlier, I just hope they sort this soon and not suddenly in the week we play Skates. 

[Dman]

It'll be interesting the level of ban. For example, 6 months touchline isn't where near as impactful as a 6 game complete ban.

It'd also be intresting to see how a 'complete ban' would be enforced in the day and age of video calls etc. 

Either way, anything more than a handful of games ban, I'd be looking to bring in a touchline number 1. Someone with affiliation to the club who's willing to drop ego and essentially coach players through the game from the sideline (and probably get a decent wedge as a result). 

Strachan, Adkins. Ralph...?

[Dman]

9 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

He offered his resignation previously. I can’t see him just sat around for 6 months unemployed, when I am sure he would fancy a job in Europe.

 

Hasn't he just had a child? 6 months at home, getting paid, with your newborn might seem appealing... 

[bpsaint]

The FA have the power in their hands now to completely fuck up our hopeful promotion push, and I feel their imminent decision has the ability to make or break our season. 
 

What’s an equally important matter for me is the fact that Sport Republic have had a few months now to set a contingency plan in place for either a full time replacement, or as was meant to be the case with Hoddle, a temporary manager until Tonda can come back into the fold. Our owners equally have the ability to make or break our season if there is a ban on the horizon. If they fucking dare to try and see out a 3-6 month ban, with Ben Garner or Nivea running the show and expect promotion they can get fucked, especially with the derby coming up.

[Saint Marky]

On 11/09/2026 at 18:35, benjii said:

I can confirm Farmer Saint was visibly erect.

Surely only a semi, was barely visible.

 

[Dan Johnson]

I’m hoping for 6-10 game touchline ban, with him watching from the stands and still taking training etc. 

[SNSUN]

57 minutes ago, Dman said:

It'll be interesting the level of ban. For example, 6 months touchline isn't where near as impactful as a 6 game complete ban.

It'd also be intresting to see how a 'complete ban' would be enforced in the day and age of video calls etc. 

Either way, anything more than a handful of games ban, I'd be looking to bring in a touchline number 1. Someone with affiliation to the club who's willing to drop ego and essentially coach players through the game from the sideline (and probably get a decent wedge as a result). 

Strachan, Adkins. Ralph...?

Ralph is a good shout. Unemployed, familiar with the club, still a couple of lads around from his tenure and generally liked by fans despite perhaps overstaying his time here by a few months. I guess a bit like when we had Hoddle cover for Jones.

But I suspect it'll be someone from within the club if it is a short ban.

[Wade Garrett]

Nothing the FA do would surprise me.  But Chelsea just got a fine for basically financially doping their team for years and don’t get me started on Man City.

We have been punished enough, fact.  It’s ridiculous that this wasn’t put to bed once we got our punishment from the EFL.

[Wade Garrett]

2 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

I’m hoping for 6-10 game touchline ban, with him watching from the stands and still taking training etc. 

I’m hoping for fuck all.

[SNSUN]

Be nice if he signed off with a manager of the month award...

[sfc4prem]

10 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

I’m hoping for 6-10 game touchline ban, with him watching from the stands and still taking training etc. 

I think this is the most likely course of action.

[AlexLaw76]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

Hasn't he just had a child? 6 months at home, getting paid, with your newborn might seem appealing... 

why would he be getting paid?

[Saint Gifford]

Tbf and I am probably on my own here. But I would have got rid of him when this all kicked off. 

Started again, he will go anyway at some point. Why are we causing ourselves a load of grief when it was his doing in the first place. 
 

 

[Toadhall Saint]

2 minutes ago, Saint Gifford said:

Tbf and I am probably on my own here. But I would have got rid of him when this all kicked off. 

Started again, he will go anyway at some point. Why are we causing ourselves a load of grief when it was his doing in the first place. 
 

 

The saddest part is that you are not on your own - that is not recognising (base on the stats) one of if not the best manager we have ever had. I’ll allow him his mistake as he is very quick to learn and therefore will not do it again. I’d hate to be sat here in 18 months sat in div 2 looking at some bundesliga team that’s on the rise because they didn’t worry about what he had done only what he could do.

[AlexLaw76]

9 minutes ago, Toadhall Saint said:

The saddest part is that you are not on your own - that is not recognising (base on the stats) one of if not the best manager we have ever had. I’ll allow him his mistake as he is very quick to learn and therefore will not do it again. I’d hate to be sat here in 18 months sat in div 2 looking at some bundesliga team that’s on the rise because they didn’t worry about what he had done only what he could do.

Each to their own, but I think a statement like this is utterly mental TBF

[Dan Johnson]

18 minutes ago, Saint Gifford said:

Tbf and I am probably on my own here. But I would have got rid of him when this all kicked off. 

Started again, he will go anyway at some point. Why are we causing ourselves a load of grief when it was his doing in the first place. 
 

 

I thought his position was untenable so I’d have got rid of him too, despite the fact before the spygate story broke, I don’t think the club/fan base have ever been behind a manager so comprehensively as we were all behind Tonda back then.

i think the majority of the fan base still are now, I certainly am, but we can’t deny that this is still a distraction and could have the potential to be a bit of a momentum killer should the decision go against us 

[beatlesaint]

If it’s bad Dragan will get his lawyers in and appeal the severity, despite the fact he’s already said that at least twice in different interviews some of you seem to think the club will just accept it and that’ll be it. They won’t, the owner had told you they won’t.

Some people clearly want the worst possible outcome…….ahem AlexLaw76 …….. which just fkin baffles and annoys me 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

If it’s bad Dragan will get his lawyers in and appeal the severity, despite the fact he’s already said that at least twice in different interviews some of you seem to think the club will just accept it and that’ll be it. They won’t, the owner had told you they won’t.

Some people clearly want the worst possible outcome…….ahem AlexLaw76 …….. which just fkin baffles and annoys me 

why do I want the worst possible outcome?

Getting the lawyers in made no difference last time and will do nothing but distract from the much needed goal of gaining promotion.

I suspect, if any ban is given and is substantial, Tonda will make the decision for the club and walk.

The mess that we are about to potentially face is largely the club's own doing

[beatlesaint]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

why do I want the worst possible outcome?

Getting the lawyers in made no difference last time and will do nothing but distract from the much needed goal of gaining promotion.

I suspect, if any ban is given and is substantial, Tonda will make the decision for the club and walk.

The mess that we are about to potentially face is largely the club's own doing

Because anything negative you revel in it. You cannot wait to criticise the slightest little thing. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, beatlesaint said:

Because anything negative you revel in it. You cannot wait to criticise the slightest little thing. 

how do I "revel" in it?

It was a monumental fuck up what happened and he probably will lose his job over it. If we do not go up this season, that will be that for a generation

[Toadhall Saint]

17 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Each to their own, but I think a statement like this is utterly mental TBF

Great why? 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Toadhall Saint said:

Great why? 

Because I think he is not in the conversation.
Plenty of other managers of far outdone what the team have have allowed them to.

He has not even been in charge for 12 months. 

[Nordic Saint]

That was Tonda's 30th win today and he has the best win rate (61.22%) of any Saints manager in our history who's managed us for 30 or more games. 

List of Southampton F.C. managers - Wikipedia) 

[Turkish]

I fully expect the FA to bend us over. They don’t make examples of clubs like Chelsea they make examples of clubs like us whilst the big clubs do what they want as they know The FA and Premier league them more than they need them. We got hammered once and Tonda will get his turn next which will impact our promotion chances, it’s guaranteed 

[trousers]

21 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I fully expect the FA to bend us over. They don’t make examples of clubs like Chelsea they make examples of clubs like us whilst the big clubs do what they want as they know The FA and Premier league them more than they need them. We got hammered once and Tonda will get his turn next which will impact our promotion chances, it’s guaranteed 

Yep, it's pretty much inevitable that the FA will hand out a completely disproportionate punishment. I'm expecting a 6 month ban from all footballing activities*

(*Anyone know if such a ban would cover 'someone' from the club meeting up with Tonda down the pub for a 'social chit chat' every now and then, coincidentally in the run up to our matches...? )

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[trousers]

Also, given we're performing as well post-'spygate' as we were before it came to light, does this lay to rest the accusation that we significantly gained, if at all, from the 'spying'...?

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[S-Clarke]

I just cannot see why he would be banned from football for a period of time. If what he had been doing was so hideous, why has he been allowed to start the season? If this was the crime of the century so many seem to believe it was, then surely he wouldn't be allowed to be back in the same job?

The FA doesn't have a spying rule per-say, so they'll be making up whatever they want on the fly. I'll also add that the FA cannot punish the football club directly per-say, this is an individual approach - but hopefully they realise that anything daft would punish a club who has already been punished in some quite over the top ways.

A fine and a touchline ban is all I can see, if it's anymore than that then the game is finished and it would leave me questioning what the point of it all is.

[sfc4prem]

3 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I just cannot see why he would be banned from football for a period of time. If what he had been doing was so hideous, why has he been allowed to start the season? If this was the crime of the century so many seem to believe it was, then surely he wouldn't be allowed to be back in the same job?

Agreed.

[trousers]

2 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

The FA doesn't have a spying rule per-say, so they'll be making up whatever they want on the fly

Quite...

Equally, the FA also didn't have a spying rule when Bielsa admitted to doing much more than Tonda... 

(FFS Trousers... You know the forum thought police frown upon any comparison with the Bielsa case, so why bring it up you f***ing plum?)

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, trousers said:

Quite...

Equally, the FA also didn't have a spying rule when Bielsa admitted to doing much more than Tonda... 

(FFS Trousers... You know the forum thought police frown upon any comparison with the Bielsa case, so why bring it up you f***ing plum?)

isn't it also about the suggest / alleged bullying and such like?

 

[trousers]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

isn't it also about the suggest / alleged bullying and such like?

 

Pass. No idea. 

[Saint Pete]

8 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I just cannot see why he would be banned from football for a period of time. If what he had been doing was so hideous, why has he been allowed to start the season? If this was the crime of the century so many seem to believe it was, then surely he wouldn't be allowed to be back in the same job?

The FA doesn't have a spying rule per-say, so they'll be making up whatever they want on the fly. I'll also add that the FA cannot punish the football club directly per-say, this is an individual approach - but hopefully they realise that anything daft would punish a club who has already been punished in some quite over the top ways.

A fine and a touchline ban is all I can see, if it's anymore than that then the game is finished and it would leave me questioning what the point of it all is.

Well yeah, but who knows what machinations the FA goes through in deciding these things, it's baffling how it could have taken this long to come to a decision and what exactly they have been doing all this time! I personally think a ban is inevitable purely because of all the furore that has surrounded this, it's just a case of how long. 

[trousers]

12 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

I just cannot see why he would be banned from football for a period of time. If what he had been doing was so hideous, why has he been allowed to start the season? If this was the crime of the century so many seem to believe it was, then surely he wouldn't be allowed to be back in the same job?

Agreed, but there's one major flaw in your train of thought... You appear to be assuming the FA will deal with this rationally and logically. I admire your optimism...

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[Turkish]

22 minutes ago, trousers said:

Also, given we're performing as well post-'spygate' as we were before it came to light, does this lay to rest the accusation that we significantly gained, if at all, from the 'spying'...?

Well the games we were accused of we didn’t win any of them, so arguably spying had a negative impact. 

[trousers]

Thinking out loud.... I wonder how much of a backlash would there be if the FA were relatively lenient with Eckert and how much will they be taking that into account in their deliberations, either consciously or sub-conciously?

"We don't want to dish out a disproportionate punishment but it has to be punitive enough to satisfy everyone else" (?)

(Under scrutiny, they'd obviously claim that the wider footballing community reaction doesn't / shouldn't influence their desision, but they would say that, wouldn't they...)

 

[beatlesaint]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

Thinking out loud.... I wonder how much of a backlash would there be if the FA were relatively lenient with Eckert and how much will they be taking that into account in their deliberations, either consciously or sub-conciously?

"We don't want to dish out a disproportionate punishment but it has to be punitive enough to satisfy everyone else" (?)

(Under scrutiny, they'd obviously claim that the wider footballing community reaction doesn't / shouldn't influence their desision, but they would say that, wouldn't they...)

 

Thinking out loud as well, if they decide to ban him during the international break do the clubs that have played us, and lost to us so far this season, not also have a case or argument to say “well you let him manage against us but now you’ve moved the goalposts….”

[Nordic Saint]

5 minutes ago, trousers said:

Thinking out loud.... I wonder how much of a backlash would there be if the FA were relatively lenient with Eckert and how much will they be taking that into account in their deliberations, either consciously or sub-conciously?

"We don't want to dish out a disproportionate punishment but it has to be punitive enough to satisfy everyone else" (?)

(Under scrutiny, they'd obviously claim that the wider footballing community reaction doesn't / shouldn't influence their desision, but they would say that, wouldn't they...)

 

It's amazing how much that happens in this world can be explained by René Girard’s scapegoat theory and, unfortunately, in the football league, we have become the scapegoat.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Some people on here are so miserable and beyond pessimistic. AlexLaw, we’re all looking at you.

Absolutely no reason at the moment to assume it’ll be anything ridiculous.
He’ll get a ban, but there nothing to say how severe or minor it will be.

Some people on here love the drama and wish the worst on the club.