Southampton head coach Tonda Eckert says he is awaiting the Football Association’s decision on a misconduct charge linked to the club’s Spygate scandal. The verdict matters because a lengthy ban could affect his ability to lead the team, despite owner Dragan Solak saying in June that he would not dismiss him.

Eckert was charged more than a week ago over authorising observation of rival training sessions, after Southampton admitted spying on three clubs and were expelled from the Championship play-offs in May. While the squad continue pre-season in Germany, Eckert says Southampton aim for automatic promotion and begin their Championship campaign at Watford a week after their Carabao Cup tie against Colchester.