Thomas Frank in ‘contention’ to manage Tottenham’s Premier League rivals after sack reveal
Thomas Frank has been named in the running for Crystal Palace manager despite still being in charge of Tottenham.
Football Insider revealed on Sunday that Palace are planning to offer the job to Frank in the summer as the prospect of him leaving Spurs becomes more likely.
Sources say he is seen as the perfect fit at Selhurst Park due to his successful time at Brentford, and that his appointment would be seen as a coup for the Eagles.
Tottenham lost 2-1 to West Ham on Saturday, a result that was seen by many fans as the final straw for Frank.
Oliver Glasner slammed the Palace hierarchy in an explosive interview on Saturday, intensifying the pressure on his own job.
Thomas Frank among Crystal Palace contenders
Despite the ever-mounting pressure on Frank both internally and externally, Tottenham are yet to make a final decision.
The latest reports suggest that the Dane will be in charge for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund, where he will hope to buy himself some time.
The issue for Frank is that the fans have already made their position clear. Boos rang around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, and they have been for some time.
It will not be long before Tottenham start seeing protests in the stands, and especially when that happens, the calls will be hard to ignore.
At Selhurst Park, Glasner’s job also hangs in the balance. The Austrian claimed that he has been abandoned by decision-makers, who, this week, sanctioned a move allowing Marc Guehi to move to Man City.
The 51-year-old was already set to leave Palace at the end of the season when his contract runs out, but an early dismissal could be arranged.
Frank is at 8/1 odds of taking over should Glasner depart, with Gareth Southgate (6/1), and Steve Cooper (6/1) leading the race according to one major bookmaker.
When will Frank be sacked?
Tottenham chiefs are said to have expected Frank to lead his team through a difficult period, but they likely would not have expected one as perilous as this.
The Lilywhites are just five points ahead of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and only 10 points above the relegation zone.
| Tottenham fixtures | Date |
| Borussia Dortmund (H) | 20 Jan |
| Burnley (A) | 24 Jan |
| Eintracht Frankfurt (A) | 28 Jan |
| Man City (H) | 1 Feb |
| Man United (H) | 7 Feb |
The top four is still just nine points away, in fairness, but Tottenham have not shown any sign of having the consistency to reel in that gap.
Should Frank survive Tuesday’s Champions League game, he will a trip to Burnley – where, surely, defeat would end his tenure.