Southampton are preparing for another season in the Championship after being eliminated from the play-offs the previous season.

The Saints reached the final after defeating Middlesbrough 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.

However, the club was found guilty of violating the EFL’s rules regarding spying on opposing teams, resulting in their expulsion.

Tonda Eckert has led the Hampshire side to fourth position in the standings, with a 19-game undefeated streak putting them in promotion contention.

However, the German coach’s future is questionable while the Football Association conducts an investigation into the spying incident.

The 33-year-old is facing a punishment after FIFA previously sanctioned former Canada women’s team coach Ben Priestman with a 12-month sentence for spying on opposing training at the 2024 Olympics.

Simon Jordan makes Tonda Eckert’s ban claim.

Simon Jordan has disputed the idea that Eckert will face a penalty from the FA for his role in the spying incident, arguing that Marcelo Bielsa’s written warning from 2019 is a far more probable precedent to be followed in this case.

The former Leeds United manager was given a slap on the wrist after the Yorkshire club was found spying on Derby County, and only the FA’s desire to make headlines could have resulted in a different verdict.

“So, where did we get that? “This idea that he’ll get a 12-month ban, because the last person dealt with was Bielsa, and all he got was a formal warning from the FA,” Jordan told Talksport.

“Now we know the EFL has escalated the repercussions since it was a play-off situation, and they made a terrible decision, in my opinion, to go to those extremities.

“You go from the Leeds situation, with a £200,000 fine, to preventing someone from potentially winning the biggest game in English football.

“They’ve made their decision.

“So if the FA want to make headlines for themselves, and add value to what they feel that their reputation is going to be burdened by, then they’ll do something ridiculous.”

Jordan is adamant that Southampton will continue with Eckert and that he will not be banned from football, implying that removing the team from the play-offs was an insufficient penalty for the crime they committed in the first place.

“I’d be amazed if they do that, and of course what will happen is that Southampton will appeal it,” he said.

“They weren’t going to fire the manager; what was the point of firing a manager who had already been sanctioned?”

“They truly believe the manager is an excellent manager.

“[I didn’t feel Southampton were going to be removed from the play-offs] and I thought it was a massively, massively disproportionate sanction.”

“Anyone who understands anything about football knows that the game is replete with people attempting to take liberties, and if you believe he’s the only one who has done so, you’re mistaken.

“He’s someone who’s been captured.

“And all of a sudden, the game becomes holier than thou, full with religious observations.

“I appreciate the need to safeguard the game’s ideals, but the only individuals who truly thought it was helpful were the coaching staff who implemented it.

“But, anyway, do I think he’ll be banned for a year?” I doubt it.

Southampton have already welcomed Cyle Larin and Daniel Peretz to their first-team squad this summer, with both earning permanent contracts after spending time on loan at St Mary’s earlier this year.

Lewis Dobbin has joined the Saints on a four-year agreement following his move from Aston Villa.

During his loan at Preston North End last season, the attacker scored 10 goals and assisted eight times.

Southampton will be hoping he can assist the Hampshire side earn promotion to the Premier League in 2027.

Eckert’s team will kick off their new Championship campaign on August 16 against Watford at Vicarage Road.

Tonda Ecket’s reprieve would be crucial for Southampton.

Eckert appeared destined to depart Southampton following the espionage controversy, especially given the players’ reluctance to keep him.

However, he is now in charge of pre-season, and his connection with the squad appears to be intact, so avoiding a suspension would be a huge relief for the club.

It’s tough to determine how much Southampton is really receiving by spying on competition training, but it’s probably not much, so Eckert deserves a lot of credit for his efforts in turning things around.

He is still a highly regarded young coach, so keeping him around for next season will aid their promotion push.