Southampton's sporting director has conveyed the club's readiness for a potential Football Association ban for manager Tonda Eckert following the 'Spygate' scandal, while remaining hopeful for a favorable outcome.

The Saints have already endured significant penalties, including:

• Expulsion from the Championship play-off final
• Four-point deduction for the upcoming season

These sanctions were imposed after the club admitted to breaching three EFL regulations by illicitly monitoring semi-final opponents Middlesbrough and two other teams. Eckert has accepted full responsibility for the incident, a stance supported by Southampton owner Dragan Solak.

The German manager now faces three FA charges under Rule E3.1 for "misconduct." As the new season approaches, the outcome remains uncertain, although a ban seems likely. Yet, Johannes Spors, Saints’ group technical director, expressed the club's commitment to managing any disciplinary actions, stating:

"There are so many uncertainties of how this could look like. At the moment I’m honestly very positive, looking into the next weeks."

Phil Parsons, the club's chief executive, noted that the timeline for the FA hearing is unclear before Saturday’s Carabao Cup tie against Colchester and the subsequent Championship opener against Watford.

Eckert, who participated in Southampton’s annual BBC Radio Solent Fans’ Forum, acknowledged the possibility of being sacked but insisted the portrayal of his coaching setup is inaccurate. He expressed gratitude for the support from the club's ownership and fans, emphasizing a desire for a positive future:

"I just hope we’ll be sitting here in 12 months and talking about the Premier League. I can only tell you I’ll do everything to make you proud."