New Eckert deal should be 'high on agenda' - Beattie

Former Southampton striker James Beattie believes a new contract for head coach Tonda Eckert should be "high on the agenda" for the club's hierarchy. Eckert was handed a suspended six-week ban on Wednesday by a Football Association (FA) independent regulatory commission, and fined £28,000 for his role in the Spygate scandal , meaning he is free to continue as Saints' head coach. Beattie, who scored 76 goals in 235 appearances for the club, is hopeful that with the uncertainty now removed around Eckert's future, it will be followed with a new contract for the German. The 33-year-old's present agreement runs until the end of the season. Since he was promoted from Under-21's coach to become manager in November 2025, Saints have won 30, drawn 11 and lost just nine games. Eckert's first game since Wednesday's judgement will be the South Coast derby against Portsmouth on Sunday (12:00 BST) at St Mary's. "I'm sure a new contract is very high on the agenda if not sorted already," Beattie told BBC Radio Solent. "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. "I think this news will be a little shot in the arm for them before the derby, 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. "Now it's been sorted they can look forward, 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." James Beattie played for Southampton from 1998 until 2005 [Getty Images] Saints have had a mixed start to the campaign but after eight matches sit 13th in the Championship having started the campaign on minus four points following the initial punishment imposed by the English Football League (EFL) independent disciplinary commission. Saints were expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting spying on training sessions involving Oxford United, Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough before the play-off semi-final. The FA started their investigation into Spygate and Southampton in May, and took over four months to reach Wednesday's verdict. Saints chief executive Phil Parsons said before the three-week international break that he expected more clarity on Eckert's situation before their next Championship game. The FA's verdict was delivered the day before Eckert's planned media conference before Sunday's match. "I can't believe how long this has taken," former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem said. "Obviously, it is a good decision for Saints and now life goes on, Dragan [Solak, owner] has made a good gamble in keeping him [Eckert]. "Nothing will now be upset at the club before the derby on Sunday, they don't need to look for another manager at short notice. "On the whole I think this was the right decision, the punishment has already been given to the club and the city when they were kicked out from the play-offs." Listen back to BBC Radio Solent's Tonda Eckert special Latest Southampton news and analysis