Tonda Eckert’s FA hearing is slated for tomorrow, so the German will soon find out the magnitude of any punishment he is likely to get.

It’s been nearly five months since the Spygate scandal shook football, with Southampton eliminated from the Championship play-offs and given a four-point deduction for this season.

Eckert’s punishment will be determined at the hearing on Thursday, and it could range from a fine to a complete ban from football.

Former Saints striker Charlie Austin has now weighed in on the situation, emphasising the necessity of not jeopardising the 33-year-old’s career.

Charlie Austin advocates for a fair Tonda Eckert penalty.

Southampton entered the international break in a promising mid-table position and would have been in the play-offs if not for their points deduction.

How the table would look without the Saints’ points deduction.

Club

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GD Points: – Swansea City: 8 + 7 = 17 – West Ham: 8 + 11 = 15 – Middlesbrough: 8 + 4 = 15 – Southampton: 8 + 9 = 14 – Wolves: 7 + 5 = 5

The home defeat to Wrexham was difficult to swallow, especially since Phil Parkinson’s side secured a late victory thanks to a Keven Schlotterbeck own goal.

The South Coast club is currently awaiting the outcome of Eckert’s FA hearing, but the time frame for an announcement is unknown.”I believe we should move on,” Austin told The Sun.The punishment has been completed. They were eliminated from a lucrative game worth millions.Eckert is a young coach.

He admitted his mistake and learned from it.Just let him get on with his career now. It’s ridiculous this has been dragged out further. “We’re talking about minus four points they were docked but because they’ve started the season brilliantly that has become an irrelevance. “The FA need to put this to bed — and let Eckert and Southampton get on with their lives.”

“The penalty has been completed. They were eliminated from a lucrative game valued millions.Eckert is a young coach. He admitted his error and learned from it.Let him go on with his career now. It’s ridiculous that this has been dragged out further.

Despite being fined four points, the team’s strong start to the season has rendered this irrelevant.The FA should put this behind them and allow Eckert and Southampton go on with their lives.”

What could Eckert’s punishment be?

It is worth noting that when Southampton’s play-off fate was decided, the most drastic steps were utilised to set an example; would Eckert face the same treatment?

The agreement is that the German will be punished, yet a touchline ban or a suspension from football altogether are two very distinct punishments with differing effects.

According to The Sun, sources at the club have informed them that there is genuine concern that the FA would impose a nuclear six-month penalty.

While that is only a concern, and it comes from a source at the club rather than someone close to the FA, if the club’s punishment is any indication, that concern is justified.

Could Eckert lose his job as a result of the FA punishment?

Dragan Solak, the Saints’ owner, openly supported Eckert during the summer and effectively gave him the benefit of the doubt about what transpired, giving the 33-year-old a tremendous confidence boost.

However, if Southampton’s head coach is barred from all football operations, he may be unable to train or manage from the sidelines.

That would put Solak in an extremely difficult position, because, while he plainly wants the