Former Southampton striker James Beattie has urged the club's hierarchy to make securing a new contract for head coach Tonda Eckert an immediate priority, following the resolution of the FA's Spygate investigation.

Eckert, 33, received a suspended six-week ban and a £28,000 fine from an FA independent regulatory commission on Wednesday, leaving him free to continue in charge at St Mary's. His current contract runs only until the end of the season, meaning the German's future beyond the summer remains formally unresolved.

Beattie, who scored 76 goals in 235 appearances for Southampton, told BBC Radio Solent he hopes the clarity around Eckert's immediate position will now prompt the club to act swiftly on a longer-term arrangement.

"I'm sure a new contract is very high on the agenda if not sorted already," Beattie said. "I know the club are run very professionally behind the scenes and I'm sure lots of things are in process there before we get to know about it."

The timing of the verdict, delivered the day before Eckert's planned media conference ahead of Sunday's South Coast derby against Portsmouth (kick-off 12:00), was welcomed by Beattie as a boost for players and staff alike.

"I think this news will be a little shot in the arm for them before the derby," he said. "As a player you think that's one less thing to worry about and it frees you up to focus on the game. The lads are human at the end of the day and it would have been playing on their minds a little bit."

Former Saints midfielder Jo Tessem echoed the sentiment, suggesting owner Dragan Solak had been vindicated in his decision to keep faith with Eckert through the protracted investigation. "I can't believe how long this has taken," Tessem said. "Obviously, it is a good decision for Saints and now life goes on. Dragan has made a good gamble in keeping him."

A record that speaks for itself

Eckert was promoted from Under-21s coach to head coach in November 2025, and the numbers since then are difficult to argue with. According to the BBC report, Southampton have won 30, drawn 11 and lost just nine games under his management. That record came despite a backdrop of significant instability, including the Spygate fallout that saw Saints expelled from last season's Championship play-offs after the club admitted to spying on the training sessions of Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough.

The EFL's independent disciplinary commission initially docked Southampton four points at the start of the current campaign as part of that punishment. The club began the season in the red before a point had been kicked, yet after eight matches they sit 13th in the Championship, a position that reflects a steady if unspectacular recovery.

Chief executive Phil Parsons had signalled before the international break that he expected clarity on Eckert's position to arrive before Southampton's next Championship fixture, and the FA delivered its verdict within that window. Whether a contract extension follows before Sunday's derby, or is announced quietly in the coming days, remains to be seen. The club has not publicly confirmed any negotiations.

What comes next

Southampton's immediate focus is the derby at St Mary's. That fixture carries its own weight regardless of the circumstances around it, but Beattie believes the off-pitch resolution could have a tangible effect on the dressing room.

"Now it's been sorted they can look forward," he said. "The timing of the decision couldn't be better and hopefully they can go on and put in a really good performance at St Mary's."

For the supporters and the wider city, the hope will be that a contract extension follows the suspended ban swiftly. Tessem put it plainly: "The punishment has already been given to the club and the city when they were kicked out from the play-offs." There is a broad sense among those close to the club that Eckert has already served his time. Whether the boardroom agrees, and makes it official, is now the outstanding question.

Frequently asked

What happened with Tonda Eckert's Spygate ban?
An FA independent regulatory commission handed Eckert a suspended six-week ban and a £28,000 fine for his role in the Spygate scandal. The suspended nature of the ban means he remains free to manage Southampton.
When does Tonda Eckert's Southampton contract run out?
According to reports, Eckert's current contract runs until the end of the season. Former Saints striker James Beattie has called on the club to make securing a new deal a top priority.
Where are Southampton in the Championship table?
After eight matches of the current Championship season, Southampton sit 13th. The club started the campaign on minus four points following an EFL disciplinary deduction linked to the Spygate affair.