Right. That brings to a close our live coverage of Tonda Eckert's press conference.

Thank you for joining us.

The Championship returns on Friday night with West Ham hosting QPR and we will have live text coverage of that game on the BBC Sport website and app.

We will also be across Saturday's action and then the big South Coast derby on Sunday, with Tonda Eckert in the dugout for Southampton.

Until then, goodbye!

Portsmouth

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

"I'm pleased that we've drawn a line under everything. I think it's a good result in terms of meaning we can just focus on the game at the weekend.

"There's no distraction. I think there would have been if the outcome had been different.

"It makes absolutely no difference to us but one where it will just be about the football at the weekend now."

You can listen to John Mousinho's full press conference above or on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton striker James Beattie says Wednesday's verdict should boost the Saints squad before Sunday's derby against Portsmouth.

Beattie also believes the club's hierarchy should negotiate a new deal for boss Tonda Eckert.

"I'm sure a new contract is very high on the agenda if not sorted already," Beattie told BBC Radio Solent.

"I know the club are run very professionally behind the scenes and I'm sure lots of things are in process there before we get to know about it.

"I think this news will be a little shot in the arm for them before the derby, as a player you think that's one less thing to worry about and it frees you up to focus on the game.

"The lads are human at the end of the day and it would have been playing on their minds a little bit. The timing of the decision couldn't be better."

Read more on that here.

Wrexham

Phil Parkinson on Tonda Eckert's punishment and the Spygate case:

"Everybody outside of Southampton [and probably those inside the club] has been concerned about why it has taken so long to get to this point.

"I can't quite fathom it. Everybody has now got to respect the decision, firstly from the English Football League (EFL) and secondly from the FA.

"They are going to move on, and everybody else has to move on. I was reading the chairman [Dragan Solak]'s quotes. They have been punished severely.

"They lost the chance to get into the Premier League. That is punishment enough. Tonda is a young manager, and I'm sure he has accepted responsibility.

"He will learn from that, but now everybody has to draw a line through it and move on."

Read more from Parkinson here.

Wrexham

Perhaps unsurprisingly, managers of Championship clubs at press conferences across the country this week have been asked about Tonda Eckert's sanction.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson says Southampton have already been "severely punished" and that "everybody has to move on".

Jobi McAnuff
Former Crystal Palace winger on 72+ EFL podcast

Tonda Eckert got off very, very lightly. Ultimately he's not going to miss any time on that sideline.

Southampton fans, players and staff who had no knowledge have been incredibly harshly punished - I think justly.

I feel, ultimately, one man was responsible for that. I cannot understand how the commission has come to the conclusion that he won't face any time off the touchline.

It's a real shock and certainly something I didn't see coming.

When you step over the line that should have severe repercussions and I don't think we've seen that with the sanctions that have been handed down.

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent commentator on 72+ EFL podcast

I thought he'd get maybe three to five games per [FA] charge and it would be a difficult decision for the club - do we wait for him to come back, do we move on?

I think he's lucky, but I am pleased it is all over and it looks like they can move on.

I think he's paid a fairly hefty price, even if it hasn't come in the dugout in the next few weeks.

Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees:

"I think for us and for me, it ended after the judgement in the first one. I'm not want to keep a grudge after that.

"I get that punishment and then we move on. I talked to Tonda since that day and he called me and apologised for those things.

"In general, it was up to them to make their decision so for us, it's moving forward and trying to spend everything on ourselves, that's the main thing.

"After the game, I talked about my point-of-view on it. I never said anything about what was the ban, I just talked about the emotions that I felt about it.

"I'm not the one to keep a grudge in terms of that. Everyone is entitled to a second chance. I try to live by that every day."

Read the full story here.

Tonda Eckert is still speaking to the written media but his comments are embargoed until later today.

We can bring you a bit more reaction to the conclusion of the case though...

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on the support he's had:

"I'm grateful for the club, I'm grateful for the people close to me to help me throughout some moments that haven't been easy.

"And you just come to the moment now luckily where it's done and for us to look forward and that we get back to the performance that we need if we want to play for big goals this season."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on who he has turned to for support through a tough five-month process:

"You're dragging me right back in there. I think in your private life, you always have people who are very close to you.

"Then on the professional side, there has been great support from the club and a couple of external people.

"I was lucky enough that there were senior people in English football who were happy to talk to me.

"It's helped on a professional level and a private level to have those conversations."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on whether the loyalty shown by the board makes him want to commit his future to the club for longer:

"I think that's not my decision is it? All I can say is that I am very grateful for the decision the club has taken in the summer.

"I am very, very happy to be here and make sure I do everything to help us reach our goals."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert said he is "very grateful" for the support given to him by club owner Dragan Solak throughout the entire process of the Spygate investigation. He said:

"First of all, I want to say thank you for the support not just from Dragan but the whole board.

"I think there are many football clubs that take a different decision in the summer and that is what makes this club special.

"In times that are a lot tougher, with a lot of outside pressure, that we come to the decision we have done.

"That is something to be grateful for."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on now being able to focus on trying to win promotion to the Premier League with Southampton:

"It always has been [my focus]. But it's true that if you have something going on in the background, it just takes maybe a little bit away.

"So I think it's good for me personally, but for everyone involved. I'm sure this is going to give us another boost going into an important block of games."

Southampton

On whether the verdict will boost the fans at St Mary's on Sunday when they host local rivals Portsmouth:

"This derby doesn't need too much more of a back story. We have one now, but in the end, it's about the players on the pitch being ready to perform.

"It means everything to the football club, it means everything to the supporters.

"And I think it helps to have clarity, not just for this game but the games moving forward.

"Particularly for Sunday, I don't think it needed anything extra because we know how important it is."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on the timing of the verdict just before the South Coast derby being important:

"It's massive for us. When I came in, I made a promise to the players to always give clarity and honesty.

"The clarity they deserve, I couldn't give for many months. That is the reality and it's never easy to perform when they are not clear.

"That uncertainty doesn't allow you to look too far ahead. And that is gone now, so we make sure to put our foot on the gas on Sunday and don't stop."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on how it's impacted his life and his family:

"Not just for me, I am not the one who shares too much from my private life but obviously it does make a big difference that we can draw a line, not just for me but also for the ones close to me."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert on how destabilising the Spygate scandal has been for him, the club and the fans:

"It's tough. It changes your life. If I would say it's been all easy, it's not.

"But you have to find a way. You have to come to a conclusion at one point in the summer of how you want to continue.

"That first decision was not for me but for the club. And it that very moment, then it's for me to see if I have the energy to be the right one to bring that project forward.

"Once you make that decision, there's no excuses."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert's response to those who say the six-week suspended ban is not enough:

"Nothing."

Southampton

Tonda Eckert reiterated that he made a mistake and has to hold his hand up and accept his punishment:

"There was a fair chance that the verdict goes a different way. After such a long time. We've had a verdict from the EFL, we've had a verdict now [from the FA].

"Whatever you expect is not necessarily what you get in the end, so for me it's to hold my hand up one more time.

"I've made a mistake and it's for me to take whatever the consequences [are]."