Brentford identify Championship manager as potential Thomas Frank replacement

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna is an option to replace Thomas Frank as Brentford boss, talkSPORT understands. The Bees are having to formulate a succession plan with Frank the main contender to take charge of Tottenham after Spurs decided to sack Ange Postecoglou. McKenna is on Brentford’s list of coaches to take Frank’s place in the Gtech dugoutGetty Frank is wanted by Tottenham to replace Postecoglou, who they sacked just weeks after winning the Europa League trophyGetty Frank is Brentford’s most successful manager in their history and is already a Bees legend having taken the west London side from the Championship to a stable Premier League outfit. But success is a double-edged sword, as clubs often find in football, and it has been inevitable for the last few seasons the popular Dane would be linked with taking that next step in his career. While Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola have been linked with the hotseat vacated by the axed Postecoglou, it is believed Frank remains Spurs’ priority and the Europa League winners want the coach to agree terms first before make an official approach. In the meantime, Brentford are having to get their ducks in a row for the most likely eventuality that Frank does leave. And, according to talkSPORT sources, McKenna’s name is on their list of potential coaches to take Frank’s place should he depart for Spurs. Despite Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League this season, McKenna is highly valued as a coach by a number of chiefs in the top flight. The 39-year-old Northern Irishman was approached by Chelsea and Brighton when they were searching for new managers last summer. That came after he led the Tractor Boys to Premier League promotion with a second-place finish in the Championship while playing exciting and expansive attacking football – ending their season as the top-scoring team in the league. He ultimately stayed put, penned fresh terms with Ipswich and was backed in the transfer window. While it didn’t go to plan back in the top tier, with the Tractor Boys relegated in 19th place and a huge 16 points from safety, McKenna’s stock remains high. McKenna was linked with some top jobs last summer after his Ipswich side blew away the Championship to seal Premier League promotionRex But Postecoglou’s Spurs exit has sparked a managerial merry-go-roundGetty The former Tottenham and Man United coach has been in charge of Ipswich since 2021, overseeing back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League. This season was the Suffolk club’s first in the top flight in over 20 years. The London-born coach penned a new four-year deal with Ipswich last summer, meaning Brentford would be forced to fork over a tidy sum to bring him back to the capital as Frank’s possible replacement. However, not all agree that a move to Tottenham would be a forward step for the Danish coach. Former Brentford manager and ex-West Ham and QPR player Martin Allen joined talkSPORT to explain why he feels Frank may be better off opting to stay where he is. Reacting to the news of Postecoglou’s sacking and Tottenham’s interest in the Bees boss, he told the Weekend Sports Breakfast: “Why would Thomas Frank want to go down a pathway where clearly something is not right behind the scenes at Tottenham for top, top managers to go in and win and be successful? “We’ve seen over the last few years at Spurs, Mourinho got sacked just before the Cup final and then Conte was clearly unhappy with several interviews that he did post-match and basically talked his way into getting a sack there. “And here we’ve got a club in West London, that’s like a phoenix from the ashes, Brentford. “Thomas Frank has got solid staff, he’s got a fantastic owner, one of the best who’s in the background, not at the forefront. “The club is getting stronger, bigger, and I don’t think that move from Brentford to Tottenham is a good move for his career. “I think if he’s going to get a big job, he should wait for a big one and then I think he would be in the frame.”

 0  2
Brentford identify Championship manager as potential Thomas Frank replacement

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna is an option to replace Thomas Frank as Brentford boss, talkSPORT understands.

The Bees are having to formulate a succession plan with Frank the main contender to take charge of Tottenham after Spurs decided to sack Ange Postecoglou.

McKenna is on Brentford’s list of coaches to take Frank’s place in the Gtech dugout
Getty
Frank is wanted by Tottenham to replace Postecoglou, who they sacked just weeks after winning the Europa League trophy
Getty

Frank is Brentford’s most successful manager in their history and is already a Bees legend having taken the west London side from the Championship to a stable Premier League outfit.

But success is a double-edged sword, as clubs often find in football, and it has been inevitable for the last few seasons the popular Dane would be linked with taking that next step in his career.

While Fulham’s Marco Silva and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola have been linked with the hotseat vacated by the axed Postecoglou, it is believed Frank remains Spurs’ priority and the Europa League winners want the coach to agree terms first before make an official approach.

In the meantime, Brentford are having to get their ducks in a row for the most likely eventuality that Frank does leave.

And, according to talkSPORT sources, McKenna’s name is on their list of potential coaches to take Frank’s place should he depart for Spurs.

Despite Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League this season, McKenna is highly valued as a coach by a number of chiefs in the top flight.

The 39-year-old Northern Irishman was approached by Chelsea and Brighton when they were searching for new managers last summer.

That came after he led the Tractor Boys to Premier League promotion with a second-place finish in the Championship while playing exciting and expansive attacking football – ending their season as the top-scoring team in the league.

He ultimately stayed put, penned fresh terms with Ipswich and was backed in the transfer window.

While it didn’t go to plan back in the top tier, with the Tractor Boys relegated in 19th place and a huge 16 points from safety, McKenna’s stock remains high.

McKenna was linked with some top jobs last summer after his Ipswich side blew away the Championship to seal Premier League promotion
Rex
But Postecoglou’s Spurs exit has sparked a managerial merry-go-round
Getty

The former Tottenham and Man United coach has been in charge of Ipswich since 2021, overseeing back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.

This season was the Suffolk club’s first in the top flight in over 20 years.

The London-born coach penned a new four-year deal with Ipswich last summer, meaning Brentford would be forced to fork over a tidy sum to bring him back to the capital as Frank’s possible replacement.

However, not all agree that a move to Tottenham would be a forward step for the Danish coach.

Former Brentford manager and ex-West Ham and QPR player Martin Allen joined talkSPORT to explain why he feels Frank may be better off opting to stay where he is.

Reacting to the news of Postecoglou’s sacking and Tottenham’s interest in the Bees boss, he told the Weekend Sports Breakfast: “Why would Thomas Frank want to go down a pathway where clearly something is not right behind the scenes at Tottenham for top, top managers to go in and win and be successful?

“We’ve seen over the last few years at Spurs, Mourinho got sacked just before the Cup final and then Conte was clearly unhappy with several interviews that he did post-match and basically talked his way into getting a sack there.

“And here we’ve got a club in West London, that’s like a phoenix from the ashes, Brentford.

“Thomas Frank has got solid staff, he’s got a fantastic owner, one of the best who’s in the background, not at the forefront.

“The club is getting stronger, bigger, and I don’t think that move from Brentford to Tottenham is a good move for his career.

“I think if he’s going to get a big job, he should wait for a big one and then I think he would be in the frame.”

Musventurenal MUSVENTURENAL IS ALL ABOUT MUSIC, ADVENTURE & ARSENAL ONLY.