The in-house Southampton options who could step up to replace Tonda Eckert

Southampton stumbled to a 2-1 defeat on the road at Wrexham last time out.

This was a very disappointing way to wrap up Championship action for the three-week international break, as a late Keven Schlotterbeck own goal handed Phil Parkinson's hosts the narrow victory.

Tonda Eckert would have been hoping that his team could've pulled off another sensational 5-1 win at the Racecourse Ground, like last campaign, but their away day woes continued on, unfortunately.

This slim defeat could end up being the German's last game in the Saints dug-out, as a ban still hangs over his head for his Spygate antics.

Realistically, a touchline ban for a significant period of time does feel more likely.

But these two in-house replacements will surely be on the South Coast club's mind, in case the worst case scenario ends up becoming real...

Ben Garner

Ben Garner is currently Eckert's assistant, so if Southampton want a continuity appointment that won't disorient the playing personnel too much, handing the reins to the 33-year-old's second in command could be a logical next step.

Garner has been thrust into some very interesting environments across his coaching career, having been a coach at Crystal Palace for the main formative years of his early coaching education.

One of his roles involved him coaching in the youth set-up, which saw him work alongside the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, before they exploded onto the scene in the Premier League.

He also worked as a coach at West Bromwich Albion, following ex-Eagles manager Tony Pulis to the Hawthorns. On top of that, when undertaking his UEFA Pro License in 2014, he rubbed shoulders with Jose Mourinho.

Garner's coaching career:

Whilst at the Baggies, he also crossed paths with Southampton legend, Rickie Lambert, who was very complimentary, noting that Garner is an "imaginative" coach to work alongside, who has a "great understanding of players."

Safe to say, he's been in a range environments with some far-reaching head coaches, with Neil Warnock - an EFL great - also at Selhurst Park briefly during his time there.

Bringing him in January 2026 was seen as a smart move to help Eckert grow used to the pressures of a first-time managerial role in the Championship, with the official club website noting that he had a "wealth of experience" that would be useful for the young manager to bounce off of.

While Eckert is the main face of the operation, Garner will have had an important role in Southampton becoming the machine it has under the forthright German, and so the Saints should keep plugging along nicely, you hope, if he was pushed into the main manager spotlight.

Winning 52 games previously, as well, when managing the likes of Charlton Athletic and Colchester United, he does have some experience of being a vocal operator from the sidelines, so don't rule out him being handed the pressurised job if Eckert were to be banned.

He was outspoken, too, when appointed as Addicks boss, for being a huge advocate for "attacking football" which further suits this free-flowing Saints group perfectly.

Adam Lallana

The other likely option already at the Championship promotion hopefuls is Adam Lallana, who is a much-loved figure at St. Mary's from his playing days.

He is now the U21s manager, after a 60-goal spell at the South Coast giants, and he is doing well in this youth-focused role that was once occupied by Eckert.

From just four Premier League 2 games so far this season, Lallana has already steered the U21s to three wins, scoring seven goals, and only conceding two goals along the way.

U21s' Premier League 2 form this season under Lallana:

If Eckert can shine in the main dug-out, having worked in the youth set-up previously, Lallana will believe he can also be a success if he's pushed into the deep-end shortly.

After all, there are several ex-Premier League midfielders who have stood out in the EFL this season as promising, young managers, with Tom Cleverley masterminding four League One victories at the helm of Plymouth Argyle.

The logic in appointing Lallana would also be that he's a treasured individual on the South Coast, with the club needing a feel-good appointment, to soften the immense blow of Eckert being banned.

He spoke of his extreme excitement when being handed the U21s job in January, so he would be surely be over the moon if he was chosen to be the next boss of the men's team, even amid the difficult circumstances.

This is all theoretical chatter at the moment, with the CEO of the Championship titans, Phil Parsons, admitting that no replacements have been discussed, as they remain loyal to the controversial German.

He could live to see another day, and get off with a touchline restriction, but both Lallana and Garner will surely be considered, if he's forbidden from management for some time.

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