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Tonda Eckert

Discussion in 'Southampton' started by Saints_Alive, Nov 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM.

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Tonda Eckert, what should happen?

  1. Employ him permanently if the team do well in the next 3 games.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. Give him a contract to the end of the season if the team do well in the next 3 games.

    21.6%
  3. Give him until we employ a new manager and make him an assistant

    2.7%
  4. Give him until we employ a new manager and let him return to his old job with the U21s

    70.3%
  5. Give him the job no matter what happens.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Non of the above (for Jabbo)

    5.4%
  1. Saints_Alive

    Saints_Alive Well-Known Member

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    We've had a few varied opinions about our current interim manager's possible future so I thought I might put it to a poll.
     
    #1
  2. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

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    It’s hard to say without knowing the full story.

    Who is interested in the job right now?
    Will there be better options at the end of the season?
    How much blame behind the scenes on our start is going to Still?
    How much truth is there that the players didn’t get on with Still/gave up under him?
    Do the players like Tonda?

    Without knowing the answers to those it’s hard to really say. If he gets the job permanently I definitely wouldn’t be giving him a contract past the end of the season as the risk is too high. It’s not like he will get poached based on this season even if we turn it right round and end up going up, will just make Still look worse than Tonda better imo.

    I voted give him the next 3 and give him the job til the end of the season if he gets 7+ points and the players look more committed. But without knowing who else we’ve spoken to/actually wants the job it’s hard to say get someone else or keep him. If some top manager with a proven record is interested then by all means go and get him. If it’s people like Carrick who are the best we can get then, if the players are playing for Tonda, give him the job til the end of the season. If they aren’t or we revert back to not winning in the next 3 then go get Carrick
     
    #2
  3. Saints_Alive

    Saints_Alive Well-Known Member

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    I suppose the other question is, would he actually accept a short term contract?
     
    #3
  4. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

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    Possibly not, can phrase it that he’s interim til the end of the season as there isn’t a suitable candidate available if they want. Then gives the potential flexibility for him to move back to the u21s in the summer if that’s what we want.
     
    #4
  5. saintrichie123

    saintrichie123 Well-Known Member

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    I voted , keep him until we find a suitable replacement, then return him to the U21s.
    SR need to get this next appointment correct.
     
    #5
  6. StJabbo1

    StJabbo1 Well-Known Member

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    Where's the 'non of the above option'?
     
    #6

  7. Saints_Alive

    Saints_Alive Well-Known Member

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    Added.
     
    #7
    StJabbo1 likes this.
  8. Schrodinger's Cat

    Schrodinger's Cat Well-Known Member

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    He can manage us till we get a suitable replacement, and let him go back to the under 21s. He'll still have an entire squad to manage, still have plenty of games and can carry on learning. If he was part of SR's succession planning then he obviously needed more time, so move him back to where he was recruited for.
    Incoming manager might not want him as assistant and may want to bring their own team in too, so it makes sense to move him back
     
    #8
  9. Che’s Godlike Thighs

    Che’s Godlike Thighs Well-Known Member

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    Why wouldn't he? This is a massive opportunity for him to get his name out there in the spotlight. He has been assistant manager at half a dozen clubs, and now has the chance to fully take the reins. I can't see him being too fussy about length of contract or even salary.
     
    #9
    Ronnie Hotdog (MLsfc) likes this.
  10. Che’s Godlike Thighs

    Che’s Godlike Thighs Well-Known Member

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    Honestly if he gets 7-9 points from the next three games, it would be madness not to stick with him.
     
    #10
    Ian Thumwood likes this.
  11. Ronnie Hotdog (MLsfc)

    Ronnie Hotdog (MLsfc) Well-Known Member

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    I'd add the caveat that, as magic said, this depends on who else is available.

    Otherwise, yeah, at worse he'd have us mid table and if he kept it up we'd push for promption. Pretty much as good as you could hope for after our start.
     
    #11
  12. ChilcoSaint

    ChilcoSaint What a disgrace Forum Moderator

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    Even though your spelling is as bad as Jabbo’s!
     
    #12
  13. Saints_Alive

    Saints_Alive Well-Known Member

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    That was deliberate!
     
    #13
    StJabbo1 and ChilcoSaint like this.
  14. st_brendy

    st_brendy Well-Known Member Forum Moderator

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    There's no need to give him in contract in order for him to remain overseeing things.

    If he does well in the next game, give him the game after. And if he does well in that, give him the game after that. And so on, and so. It could last days, or weeks, or months.

    I wouldn't even be thinking about upgrading him from caretaker for sometime yet. It's not like Norwich, for example, are suddenly going to swoop in and appoint him as their next manager if we don't act fast to secure him.
     
    #14
  15. StJabbo1

    StJabbo1 Well-Known Member

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    Do faaakin' wot?
     
    #15
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  16. Lovelocum

    Lovelocum Well-Known Member

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    He’s doing ok, happy for him to take the reins until we find a suitable experienced manager.

    Hes a young coach and it’s given him valuable experience. He could be one for the future.
     
    #16
    Brinkworth Saint likes this.
  17. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

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    yeah I think this is where I’m at. Even if internally they have said he’s got til the end of the season there is no need to publicly give him the job permanently.

    Just let him keep going game by game until either they find someone they prefer or the season ends and they decide he’s the man longer term
     
    #17
  18. Saints Fan4Life

    Saints Fan4Life Well-Known Member

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    What grinds my gears is this; he's clearly the chosen one, so stop stringing us all along and announce it as so.

    I guess it's because they're afraid of the backlash if they do, knowing the fans aren't fully on board.

    **** SR.
     
    #18
  19. metalmonkey80

    metalmonkey80 Well-Known Member

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    I don't think anything needs to change right now in terms of public messaging, though over time that would change as the search "continues"

    He's got the backing of the board, he'll know the terms of the interim role and the expectations and he seems to have the backing of the players.

    As long as he keeps picking up points it reduces pressure as we climb the table, the fans see the team winning and the board has time to find "the one" (even if they already have and don't want to say so).
     
    #19
  20. Saintmagic

    Saintmagic Well-Known Member

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    Don’t think either of those things are true currently. I think they are hoping he’s the one and that he’s ready, but also realise it’s too early to give him the job permanently.

    There clearly isn’t a candidate we desperately want or it would’ve been sorted by now, so letting him just take it game by game until we are in a position to make a call on him seems logical.

    Only risk is the fact that 3 other sides are looking for managers as well, and if there is anyone they may appoint who we would want. Off the top of my head I don’t think there is, but clearly people involved in the hiring will know far more than me about that
     
    #20
    RedandWhiteManofKent likes this.

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