Middlesbrough could find another reason to resent Southampton if Eckert ban changes the picture.

Middlesbrough could have another reason to feel aggrieved with Southampton if Tonda Eckert’s disciplinary case eventually leads to Rob Edwards taking charge of the Saints.

The relationship between Middlesbrough and Southampton has become increasingly hostile since the Spygate controversy erupted before their Championship play-off semi-final last season. Before that episode, the clubs simply had a shared ambition: reaching the play-off final and moving one step closer to promotion.

That changed dramatically in May.

Only days before the two sides were due to meet at the Riverside, Middlesbrough staff discovered a Southampton employee watching their training session. The incident immediately became one of the biggest stories surrounding the play-offs and added an unusual layer of tension to the two-legged tie.

Southampton eventually won the semi-final 2-1 after extra time, but the sporting result did not settle the matter. Southampton later admitted to spying on Middlesbrough, as well as acknowledging other incidents involving Oxford United and Ipswich Town.

The consequences were severe. Southampton were removed from the Championship play-off final, allowing Middlesbrough to return to the competition and take their place against Hull City at Wembley. Boro ultimately lost that match 1-0, but their reinstatement ensured the Spygate controversy remained closely connected to the club.

Now, the two teams are preparing to meet again during the 2026-27 campaign, and another twist could make their fixtures even more interesting.

If Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert receives a lengthy FA suspension, Rob Edwards has reportedly emerged as a possible interim replacement. Should that happen, Middlesbrough supporters would have another reason to approach the Southampton meetings with added emotion.

Eckert’s FA case remains unresolved

Although the EFL process ended with Southampton being removed from the play-off final, the Football Association opened a separate disciplinary case against Eckert.

The FA charged the German coach with misconduct in July because of his involvement in the wider Spygate affair. Unlike the EFL process, the FA has had additional time to investigate the matter and consider an appropriate individual punishment.

Southampton have therefore been waiting for the outcome of the case, with the uncertainty surrounding Eckert’s future continuing to create questions around the club.

A hearing was scheduled for Thursday, but no final decision had been announced by the time of the latest reports.

There is also a precedent for a lengthy suspension in a spying case. In 2024, Canada women’s head coach Bev Priestman received a one-year FIFA ban after a drone was used to monitor an opposition training session.

That does not mean Eckert will receive the same punishment, but the precedent demonstrates that serious sanctions are possible when football authorities determine that spying has breached disciplinary rules.

Against that background, The Telegraph reported that Southampton had considered Edwards as an option should Eckert become unavailable.

Edwards would bring his own Middlesbrough history

The possibility of Edwards taking charge of Southampton would add another fascinating element to the relationship between the Saints and Middlesbrough.

Edwards previously managed Boro and initially appeared to have revitalised the club. He arrived at the Riverside after Michael Carrick’s tenure had run its course, with Middlesbrough looking for a fresh direction following consecutive mid-table finishes.

There were not enormous expectations surrounding the appointment, especially because Edwards had been out of work after leaving Luton Town.

His time at Luton had included remarkable highs and difficult lows. He guided the Hatters into the Premier League, but the club subsequently suffered two consecutive relegations, eventually dropping into League One.

Middlesbrough nevertheless gave Edwards an opportunity to rebuild his reputation in the Championship.

His impact was immediate. Boro won their first four matches under him and remained unbeaten across their opening eight games. Their defensive record was particularly encouraging, and after 15 matches they were sitting inside the top two, having suffered only two league defeats.

The early results appeared to suggest that Middlesbrough had made an inspired managerial appointment.

That made Edwards’ eventual departure particularly difficult for many supporters to accept.

Why Middlesbrough fans remain unhappy with Edwards

After only three months at the club, Edwards left for Wolves. The decision created significant frustration among Middlesbrough supporters, especially because of comments he had previously made about togetherness and the importance of the club behaving like a family.

From the perspective of many fans, Middlesbrough had given Edwards the opportunity to restore his reputation after the disappointment at Luton, only for him to leave when another opportunity appeared.

Wolves were struggling badly at the time, having failed to win any of their opening 10 league matches, but Edwards had strong personal connections with the club. He had played for Wolves and grew up in Telford, meaning the move had understandable personal and professional motivations.

Even so, many Middlesbrough supporters were unhappy with the decision.

The club may now have moved on successfully under successor Kim Hellberg, and Boro supporters can point to the potential of the current project as evidence that Edwards’ departure did not derail their progress.

However, resentment toward the former manager has not completely disappeared.

A Southampton-Edwards combination could intensify the rivalry

That history means a Southampton appointment for Edwards would create an unusual storyline when Middlesbrough visit St Mary’s.

Boro supporters already have strong feelings about Southampton because of the Spygate controversy. Adding a former Middlesbrough manager who left under controversial circumstances would provide another layer to the fixture.

Wolves’ decision to dismiss Edwards during the off-season also disappointed some Middlesbrough supporters because it meant they did not get the opportunity to face him and demonstrate what he had walked away from.

If Edwards returns to the Championship with Southampton, that opportunity could eventually arrive.

The first Southampton-Middlesbrough meeting is scheduled for Friday, November 27, at St Mary’s, while the return fixture at the Riverside is set for Saturday, March 13.

By the time the first meeting arrives, Southampton should know whether Eckert has been suspended and whether Edwards has taken temporary or permanent charge.

If Edwards is in the Southampton dugout, the fixture could carry considerably more emotional weight for Middlesbrough supporters.

There would be the original anger connected to Spygate, combined with the unresolved feelings surrounding Edwards’ departure.

For Southampton, meanwhile, appointing Edwards would be primarily about finding a solution if Eckert is unavailable. Any additional storyline would be secondary to the club’s need for stability and results.

Still, football rivalries often develop through exactly these kinds of overlapping stories.

Middlesbrough and Southampton already have a relatively new rivalry shaped by the events of last season. The possibility of Edwards appearing in the opposite dugout could add another chapter.

Whether that happens depends entirely on the FA’s decision regarding Eckert and Southampton’s subsequent managerial plans.

Until then, the possibility remains hypothetical.

But if Edwards does eventually lead Southampton into the Riverside, or welcome Middlesbrough to St Mary’s, the fixture would contain far more history than either club could have anticipated when the season began.

For Middlesbrough supporters, the combination of Spygate and Edwards would make an already intriguing matchup one to watch closely.