BBC Football reports that Southampton manager Tonda Eckert's wait to discover his fate for authorising an espionage campaign is almost over. A decisive Football Association hearing will take place in the coming days, after the German coach was charged with misconduct in July.
The hearing comes after Eckert apologised in June for orchestrating a "contrived and determined plan" to spy on Oxford United, Ipswich Town, and Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final. The espionage campaign has already cost Southampton the chance of promotion to the Premier League, with the club being expelled from the Championship play-off final and docked four points for the current season.
Eckert could be banned, but Southampton owner has insisted that he will not sack the head coach. In an interview with BBC Sport, Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons said that any further punishment would be "really tough to take". Parsons also stated that the club may appeal if the ruling goes against them.
The Football Association's disciplinary process is expected to take into account the severity of the punishment already handed to Southampton, including the four-point deduction and the expulsion from the play-off final. Parsons argued that the club has already been punished enough, citing the £10m fines handed to Chelsea for making secret payments related to transfers.
The outcome of the hearing will have significant consequences for Eckert and Southampton, with the club's ownership wanting to back the manager. However, if Eckert is banned, it remains to be seen how long the ban would need to be for the club to look elsewhere for a new coach.
The Football Association's decision is expected to be made public by the time Southampton next play against Portsmouth on 11 October.