Southampton remain in limbo months after their spying scandal, with the Football Association yet to decide what punishment, if any, manager Tonda Eckert will face for authorising the covert filming of rivals' training sessions. The English Football League moved quickly in May, expelling Southampton from the Championship play-offs and deducting four points after the club admitted spying on Middlesbrough, Oxford United and Ipswich, but the FA's separate misconduct case against Eckert has dragged on for nearly two months, leaving fans and the club uncertain about his future and the season ahead.

Supporters, who initially reacted with anger and embarrassment, have largely moved to acceptance and even defiant humour, with St Mary's crowds holding up well and chants mocking the affair breaking out during matches, including a season-high attendance of 30,132 for Saturday's game against Bristol City. There is growing frustration that the FA has been slow to act despite the EFL panel ruling within days that the spying was a "contrived and determined plan from the top down", with fans drawing unfavourable comparisons to lighter sanctions handed to bigger clubs such as Chelsea. Precedent from a one-year ban given to former Canada coach Bev Priestman suggests Eckert could face a lengthy suspension, and the club have already practised playing without him, with assistant Ben Garner taking charge of a preseason friendly while Eckert watched from the stands.