Southampton fans will be keeping their fingers crossed that the FA will take a lenient approach with Tonda Eckert's individual Spygate sanction.
Football Insider have reported that this could be the case, with a four-game touchline ban, and a hefty fine, perhaps the route that will be taken.
Nobody can be for certain, though, as the decision to expell the Saints from the playoffs was an unprecedented development that shocked the footballing world.
Therefore, they won't be taking anything for granted.
If the nightmare scenario of Eckert being banned outright played out, Cyle Larin would be gutted, as the Saints sharpshooter has regularly spoken of his fantastic working relationship with the problematic German.
Larin's great relationship with Eckert
Larin returning to St. Mary's, even with the fallout of Spygate still occurring, was all down to the 33-year-old remaining situated in the dugout.
Indeed, he stated that Eckert gave him a "lot of trust" when he had been struggling for some time at Mallorca and Feyenoord in the build-up to his loan move to England, with positive initial talks with the Berlin-born boss steering him in the direction of joining the Saints.
This arm around the shoulder approached has worked wonders for the Brampton Bagsman, as he has now bagged a ridiculous 17 goals under the tenure of Eckert, from only 32 games.
Cyle Larin. Sensational. 🪄 pic.twitter.com/TxeoGhup6I
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) August 29, 2026
To add context, he would only manage to hit 18 strikes - one more than his blistering tally on the South Coast - playing in Spain and Netherlands across 102 games, managed by four different managers, including Robin Van Persie.
It has been a phenomenal working relationship from minute one, with Eckert a huge fan of the clinical Canadian, too, as he boldly declared that he was the best striker in the entire Championship, after matchday one of the long second tier campaign.
Breaking up this alliance would hurt Larin, as it's clear that the 33-year-old has been a reinvigorating sideline presence for the ageing striker.
Of course, there is also the other side of the argument to look at.
If Eckert isn't banned, and is away from the sidelines for only a matter of games, the one-time Orlando City striker will be just fine.
Having come out the other side of all these encroaching FA eyes being intensely on him, as well, Eckert would be so desperate to deliver promotion, with Larin surely hungry to deliver more and more goals, to continue to show why the divisive German had so much faith in him.
Larin will be fired up if Eckert stays
At 31 years of age, Larin will know it's now or never if he wants to play in the Premier League.
He has played in some top divisions, before, having featured in the MLS for the aforementioned Orlando, but this would be the pinnacle of his career if he were able to line up in the elite English league.
He would love to guide the Saints back to the big time with Eckert in the dug-out, and if he keeps this insane early season form up, a route to the Premier League could open up.
Larin has a mind-blowing seven strikes next to his name from only eight league encounters, but the worry will be that fatigue is creeping in, with the veteran attacker potentially returning from the international break even more tired, having featured three times for Canada.
But, he will find more energy in reserve, surely, if it comes to light that Eckert is remaining in the dug-out for good, as he has played the best football of his globetrotting career under the 33-year-old's watchful eye.
Eckert's fate is up in the air at the moment, but the hope will be that Football Insider's predictions come true and a merciful approach is taken by the FA.
If that is the case, the football can start to do the talking once more.
If not, and Eckert is gone, Larin will be heartbroken.
For everyone's sake, let's the hope the first sequence of events plays out.
Add us as a preferred source on Google