Southampton could face a South Coast derby under Tonda Eckert, whatever the FA decides.

Southampton could find themselves facing Portsmouth in the South Coast derby with Tonda Eckert still in charge, regardless of when the Football Association reaches its decision.

The Saints are waiting for clarity on two major matters: Eckert’s disciplinary case and the result they need against their local rivals. With the derby approaching, uncertainty surrounding the manager has become another complication.

Eckert attended his FA hearing last Thursday, yet Southampton are still waiting to discover whether the German will be permitted to remain in his position. The 33-year-old was charged in July with three breaches of FA Rule E3.1 following the controversy that resulted in Southampton being removed from the Championship play-offs.

The charges relate to the club’s alleged spying on three opponents between December 2025 and May 2026. Although the FA does not have specific regulations governing the observation of training sessions in the same way the EFL does, the governing body is examining Eckert’s conduct and deciding whether further punishment is appropriate.

Southampton have already suffered significant consequences. Their expulsion from the play-offs was followed by a four-point deduction, while the controversy has created intense scrutiny. Eckert could now receive an additional sanction.

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Southampton appeared concerned that further punishment could be imposed. The club made public appeals before the Wembley hearing, underlining Eckert’s importance and how disruptive another sanction could be.

However, the length of the disciplinary process has created an unusual possibility. Southampton could reach their next competitive fixture without knowing whether Eckert will ultimately be allowed to continue, meaning the manager could still be in the dugout for one of the most important games of the season.

The South Coast derby against Portsmouth is scheduled for Sunday, October 11, at St Mary’s. It will be Southampton’s first match after a three-week international break, making it important in its own right. Yet the uncertainty surrounding Eckert could add another layer of tension.

The FA procedure provides some clues about why the matter may remain unresolved.

According to the FA handbook, the first stage involves an independent regulatory commission. Its members are selected from pre-approved Judicial Panel members. Southampton’s initial hearing took place on September 24.

Following that hearing, the commission can issue its decision. The parties involved then have 14 days to accept the ruling or lodge an appeal. For Southampton, that initial period would run until October 8.

If a Notice of Appeal is submitted, the respondent can have up to 21 days to provide a response. Under the timetable outlined in the handbook, that stage could extend until October 29.

An appeal would then be considered by an appeal board chaired by a qualified barrister or solicitor. The board would also contain two non-council panel members and one independent member. Its decision would be final, with no further appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

That timetable could potentially work in Southampton’s favour, at least in relation to the Portsmouth fixture.

If the FA does not issue its initial decision until close to the deadline, Southampton could still be waiting for clarity only a few days before the derby. Even if the club immediately appeals an adverse decision, it would be extremely difficult for the entire appeal process to be completed before the October 11 fixture.

As a result, Eckert could potentially walk onto the touchline at St Mary’s with the disciplinary case still unresolved.

Naturally, Southampton would prefer a different outcome. Their primary hope will be that the FA decides not to impose a ban on the manager at all. Eckert remains central to the club’s plans, and losing him at such a crucial stage of the season would create another major challenge.

The continuing silence since the hearing has only increased speculation around what could happen next. Almost a week after the initial hearing, Southampton still had no official clarity, creating the impression that the case may take time to resolve.

That does not necessarily indicate what the final decision will be, but it does mean the club must prepare for several possible scenarios. The uncertainty is particularly awkward because the Portsmouth match is approaching quickly.

For Southampton, the ideal situation would be to have the matter resolved before the derby so everyone knows exactly where they stand. Instead, the club could enter one of its biggest matches of the campaign while still dealing with the consequences of the controversy that has followed them for months.

The Saints will want to concentrate fully on football when Portsmouth arrive at St Mary’s. The derby carries its own pressure, and Southampton will need their attention focused on securing a result rather than answering questions about disciplinary proceedings.

Eckert’s potential presence on the touchline could therefore become an important subplot. If the FA has not completed the necessary stages by then, Southampton may be able to keep their manager in place for the fixture, even if his longer-term position remains uncertain.

There is, of course, no guarantee that the process will unfold in that manner. The FA could issue its decision quickly, or the disciplinary outcome could remove the uncertainty before the derby. Everything depends on the timing of the commission’s ruling and any subsequent appeal.

For now, Southampton can only wait.

The club has already endured expulsion from the play-offs, a points deduction and months of unwanted attention. The Eckert case has prolonged that difficult period and left supporters wondering when the situation will finally come to an end.

The Portsmouth derby now looms as another major chapter in the story. Southampton may be hoping that, by the time the two sides meet, Eckert is still available to lead the team. If the disciplinary process continues at its current pace, that is a possibility.

Ultimately, the FA will determine what happens to Eckert, while Southampton must focus on preparing for Portsmouth. The timing of the verdict could prove just as significant as the verdict itself, because it may determine whether Eckert is standing in the technical area when the Saints face their fiercest local rivals.