It has been almost two months since the Spygate issue reared its ugly head and six weeks since Saints were thrown out of the play off final, but only now with 5 weeks left to the season, have the FA got around to speaking to Toda Eckert.

The The Daily Echo have reported that Tonda Eckert this afternoon is being interviewed by the FA over his conduct in the Spygate scandal.

They report:

"Although the German remains in charge at St Mary's, the FA could still issue a lengthy ban after they have concluded their own disciplinary process.

"Eckert is set to interview at the FA today, 41 days since Southampton's failed appeal hearing ensured they would start next season in the second tier.

"It is the first reported progress in the case since the FA launched their investigation, although it is unlikely to suggest a conclusion comes soon.

"Saints do not know when a verdict is likely to be delivered, but there are 37 days until the 2026/27 season starts with the Carabao Cup first round.

"The St Mary's side then visit Watford's Vicarage Road a week later to begin their crucial Championship campaign, on Saturday, August 16 (1.30pm)."

Personally I think the FA are caught between a rock and a hard place on this one, the charges faced by Southampton for spying were EFL regulations and thus technically not an offence under the FA's own remit.

Spying on a team training is not an offence under Premier League rules, so how can the FA punish someone for an offence based on the fact.

The other issue if how close the new season actually is, by the time any hearing is concluded, the season would be upon us and surely it would be wrong to then force a club to find a new manager with so little time to prepare for the season.

All Photos Via Reuters