Championship manager latest as Eckert 'untenable' & Watford set for new boss

Eckert had been lauded as he masterminded Southampton's rise into the Championship top six following a poor start to the season under Will Still.

But now he could face charges from the Football Association and a lengthy ban in the wake of the club being kicked out of the play-offs due to spying on a Middlesbrough training session. The Times claims that his position at the club "is now untenable given the anger directed towards him by his own team".

Southampton have also admitted to spying on training sessions at Ipswich Town and Oxford United and it remains to be seen if it is confirmed they were the only opponents.

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There is a public footpath next to Stoke City's training ground and, although Tony Pulis oversaw the planting of conifers on the boundary lines to improve privacy, it would be possible to peek through the trees. For what it's worth, Southampton made a fast start when Eckert brought his team to the bet365 Stadium in January, seeming to immediately target space behind left-back Eric Bocat.

Midfielder Flynn Downes told the BBC in December: "(Eckert's) attention to detail is unreal. Literally every little thing, he just gives you. It makes it so easy. You go out on a Saturday, and you know what you're doing, you know what the other team are doing."

Southampton have also been docked four points for next season.

Sky Sports reported that Eckert had arrived at Southampton's training ground this morning ahead of a squad meeting. Southampton have started the process of issuing refunds for play-off final tickets.

It will be Middlesbrough who will take on Hull City at Wembley Stadium instead and their manager, Kim Hellberg, said: "Of course I have a lot of sympathy for supporters paying for tickets having thought they were going to Wembley. And for those, massive for some players, who were not involved.

"It's a lot of sympathy for different things. Sympathy for our fans, for how the supporters not knowing when the game is being played, it's for a lot of things. That's what this situation is about, it's been weird for a lot of different teams and supporters and it is not fair to them but it also come from the decision they have made. It's been a weird two weeks for a lot of people."

Watford, meanwhile, are expected to appoint Lech Poznan manager Niels Frederiksen as their latest head coach.

Frederiksen has just won back-to-back Polish titles. The 55-year-old led Brondby to the Danish title in 2021 too so has been champion in three of his last four completed seasons.

The Watford Observer reports: "Frederiksen would become Gino Pozzo's 24th permanent appointment since buying the club in 2012, after a season in which three head coaches took charge.

"Club chairman Scott Duxbury revealed last week that the Hornets hopes to identify their preferred choice by the end of this week."

Bristol City have reportedly narrowed their managerial search down to two: Bournemouth assistant Tommy Elphick and Lincoln manager Michael Skubala, who has just won promotion to this level.

Blackburn Rovers are also looking for a manager following the exit of former Stoke boss Michael O'Neill while Leicester City are considering what to do next after only hiring another ex-Stoke boss Gary Rowett on a short-term contract.

Dick Schreuder, the former Stoke player, does not intend to leave NEC Nijmegen amid links to Leicester. He told the Dutch press: “Everyone who has been here before says every week that we have never experienced anything like this. And then you get rewarded as well. That is so wonderful for the people, and for me personally, of course.

“(The Champions League) is going to be crazy. I will definitely be there next year. Everyone knows that I still have a contract.”

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