Southampton manager Tonda Eckert faces 'six-month ban' - Stefan Borson
The FA could set a very dangerous precedent by punishing Tonda Eckert further for Southampton's involvement in the Spygate scandal.
That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that the Saints would be "really unlucky" to see their manager banned next season.
Eckert has admitted responsibility after sending an intern to spy on Middlesbrough ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final first leg.
Due to his actions, Southampton were kicked out of the play-offs, which Hull City eventually won and earned promotion back to the Premier League.
The situation has yet to come to a conclusion, however, with the FA still investigating, and only interviewing Eckert as recently as Friday, 3 July.
Just days are left until the 2026-27 campaign kicks off with the early rounds of the Carabao Cup, but the Championship outfit are being left in the dark over their manager's potential punishment.
Tonda Eckert could face touchline ban in 2026-27
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson has criticised the investigation, stating that anything close to a six-month ban would be far too harsh.
"They'd be really unlucky to get hit very hard by the FA on top of what they've already had. It just doesn't seem right to me.
"But this whole case has got momentum around it that means that it is quite a dangerous situation for Southampton because if they did something extreme like ban the manager for six months...
"What are going to do? They're a massive club, and the season kicking off is weeks away and all of a sudden all the plans have gone. Also, where's the decision?
"If they've only just interviewed, how long is it going to be before they make the decision? And what happens if they make the decision after the start of the season and then want to ban the manager?
"I don't know. Presumably, they'll appeal. There is an appeal process. Maybe that's what will take time."
What have Southampton's owners said on the topic?
Many suggested that Eckert deserved to be sacked after getting the Saints kicked out of the play-offs, but the owners seemingly don't agree.
Dragan Solak has made it clear that the manager deserves a second chance, putting his support behind the "super-talented" figure in the dugout.
The Saints did only just fall short to Coventry City and Ipswich Town Town in the race for automatic promotion, and it was only his first half-season in charge at St Mary's Stadium.
The owners have shown a lot of courage to back their manager, rather than cave to the outrage, but heads will start to roll if everything starts going wrong next season.