Simon Jordan delivers fresh verdict on Tonda Eckert’s Southampton Spygate punishment

Simon Jordan believes Tonda Eckert has escaped the worst of Southampton’s Spygate fallout, insisting the club itself has already paid a heavy price for the controversy.

The Football Association confirmed Eckert’s punishment on Wednesday, with the Southampton boss receiving a six-week suspended ban from football-related activities.

The sanction is considerably lighter than the 16-week suspension initially sought by the FA, meaning Eckert remains available to take charge when Southampton face fierce local rivals Portsmouth this weekend.

There had been growing concern that the 33-year-old could receive a lengthy suspension for his involvement in the spying controversy, which ultimately had huge consequences for Southampton’s promotion campaign last season.

Southampton were found to have breached EFL regulations after being involved in the unauthorised observation of opposition training sessions. The punishment saw the club removed from the Championship play-offs despite reaching the semi-final stage.

The Saints were subsequently hit with a four-point deduction for the current campaign, while the FA later opened its own investigation into Eckert’s involvement.

However, Jordan feels enough punishment has already been handed out and believes there is little reason to prolong the controversy.

Speaking on talkSPORT, the former Crystal Palace chairman argued that while Eckert has not personally suffered as much as Southampton, the club has already endured significant consequences.

“He hasn’t suffered, but the club has, and that’s enough,” Jordan said.

He also pointed towards the previous case involving Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United, arguing that the precedent from that incident makes Southampton’s eventual punishment appear excessive.

Jordan also drew a comparison with Manchester City’s long-running Premier League case, suggesting Southampton’s spying offence was nowhere near as serious.

For Jordan, the FA’s latest decision should now bring the entire saga to an end, regardless of whether people believe Eckert deserved a harsher punishment.

Eckert took over at Southampton last November following Will Still’s departure, initially becoming interim boss before earning the permanent job after overseeing an impressive improvement in results.

He eventually guided the Saints to fourth place in the Championship, but their promotion hopes were dramatically ended by their expulsion from the play-offs.

Despite the controversy, Southampton have kept faith with Eckert and will now look to put the entire affair behind them as they chase promotion once again.

The immediate focus will be Sunday’s home clash with Portsmouth, with Eckert free to lead Southampton from the dugout.

Southampton can finally move on

The FA’s decision arguably brings an end to one of the most controversial episodes in Southampton’s recent history.

A lengthy suspension for Eckert would have created another major problem for the Saints after the club had already suffered a huge blow through their play-off expulsion and league points deduction.

With Eckert apologising for his involvement and the FA opting for a suspended ban, Southampton can now turn their attention back towards the Championship and their push for promotion.