Frank's downfall: Inside his struggle to get players and fans onboard

Frank's Decline: The story of his battle to win over players and supporters

Published 11 February 2026

Tottenham's choice to dismiss Thomas Frank was taken almost instantly after Tuesday evening's defeat to Newcastle.

Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham, working alongside sporting director Johan Lange, made the decision—one the club had been hesitant to take.

However, the dismal condition of Tottenham's campaign meant that even Frank's strongest supporter could not argue against the move.

Early on Wednesday morning, Venkatesham put forward the proposal to the Lewis family—the club's owners—to part ways with Frank.

In recent weeks, an angry fan base has directed its frustration toward the Lewises, amid a widespread perception that supporters' views on Frank were being ignored.

Based on discussions with individuals closely linked to the ownership, that was not the reality—and the Lewis family were aware of the significant dissatisfaction among Spurs fans.

Of course, it would have been difficult to overlook given the intensity of negative sentiment toward the Dane in recent weeks.

But since they essentially gave Venkatesham control over the club's operations when naming him chief executive last summer, it is accurate to state that the ownership has not tried to interfere—believing a choice should be made 'on the ground'.

Therefore, when the suggestion from Venkatesham to end Frank's employment arrived in the hours following the loss to Newcastle, it was promptly accepted by the ownership board, who formally ratified the decision.

The only remaining step was for Frank to be formally notified of his departure—a procedural matter that occurred on Wednesday morning during a meeting involving the manager, Venkatesham, and Lange.

Frank's hiring in June was initially praised as a smart move.

He had performed excellently at Brentford, first securing promotion from the Championship and then, crucially, cementing their status as a Premier League club.

But he remained at Spurs for only eight months, amid issues with player discipline, a divided executive team, and questions about his tactical methods.

Why Frank at Tottenham was a gamble that ended in bitter failure Published 11 February

Why Frank at Tottenham was a gamble that ended in bitter failure

Published 11 February

Frank dismissed by Spurs after eight months in charge Published 11 February

Frank dismissed by Spurs after eight months in charge

Published 11 February

Spurs fire Thomas Frank

Frank's challenge in building a successful environment

Frank was determined to establish a positive culture at Tottenham—having achieved this at Brentford—which was one of the reasons behind the choice to hire him as Ange Postecoglou's replacement.

However, there have been occasions when Frank's attempts to foster respectful working conditions for his players and staff were challenged.

Early in his tenure, Frank removed a player from Tottenham's starting lineup after that squad member arrived late for a pre-match meeting and subsequently failed to apologize for the infraction.

Nevertheless, after being dropped from the team, the player did later apologize.

The manner in which Frank handled apparent challenges to his authority ultimately impressed certain players, who appreciated that there were consequences for substandard behavior.

One example occurred when Yves Bissouma was left behind in London for August's Uefa Super Cup match against Paris St-Germain due to repeated lateness.

In recent days, meanwhile, Frank had no intention of stripping Cristian Romero of the captaincy, despite the defender's social media outbursts against the club or his red card against Manchester United.

Romero is reportedly more challenging to handle around the club's training ground, and it is alleged that some players felt the Argentine received special treatment.

When Micky van der Ven and Djed Spence appeared to decline shaking Frank's hand after the home loss to Chelsea, the manager defused the situation by stating the players were simply "frustrated" before later disclosing that they had apologized.

There was always a sense that Frank prioritized his players over his own interests. Certain members of the squad certainly valued that.

But that does not mean he left a favorable impression on all of them.

In the early weeks of his tenure, some players are thought to have found Frank indecisive.

They were accustomed to Postecoglou's strong personality—although the Australian had grown increasingly isolated during his final months in charge.

There were also consistent doubts about Frank's tactical strategy: concerns that he was not assertive enough in matches and was overly focused on adapting to the opposition rather than imposing Spurs' own strengths.

That image of Frank will do little to counter the narrative that the Tottenham job was simply too large for him.

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Thomas Frank's final interview as Spurs boss

'Tottenham considered replacing Frank in November'

Concerns about Frank's appointment had been present for months.

One senior executive recommended that the Dane should be dismissed after the 2-1 home defeat by Fulham on 29 November—Tottenham's third consecutive loss following reverses to Arsenal and PSG.

Former Brighton head coach Roberto de Zerbi—who was managing Marseille at the time—was also suggested as a potential replacement.

But that recommendation was turned down, with the club continuing to place their trust in Frank.

It is noteworthy that the club's leadership group, headed by Venkatesham, stuck with Frank for as long as they did.

The Dane's appointment was ultimately spearheaded by Daniel Levy—Tottenham's divisive former executive chairman who unexpectedly departed after 24 years in September.

While Venkatesham was involved in executing the deal that brought Frank across London, the groundwork was completed before the CEO joined last summer.

With Levy gone, it appeared the simplest decision for Venkatesham would be to sack Frank, given the growing hostility toward the head coach from fans.

But for Venkatesham, it was not that straightforward, despite knowing it could boost his popularity.

For one thing, Lange—who played a key role in identifying Frank as a leading candidate—was a close ally of his Danish compatriot.

However, it is also accurate to say that Tottenham's former co-sporting director Fabio Paratici, who has since joined Fiorentina, was not entirely convinced Frank was the right man for the role.

But there is also a sense that in the post-Levy era at Spurs, after years of frequently changing managers, they would benefit from a period of stability.

Venkatesham witnessed firsthand at Arsenal what sticking with a manager amid calls for his dismissal can achieve for a club, in the case of Mikel Arteta, who has since established the Gunners as one of Europe's top teams.

Similarly, there was a belief within Tottenham's hierarchy that Frank had been dealt a difficult hand, given that the campaign has been disrupted by injuries to key players.

There is also recognition that the squad requires repair work—particularly considering the departures of their two main goal sources in Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.

Last season's top scorer Brennan Johnson has also left—though that was due to Frank deciding the Wales attacker was no longer part of his plans.

There is also a sense that Tottenham's squad lacks leadership. This is why they signed England midfielder Conor Gallagher and attempted to acquire Andy Robertson—both of whom have extensive Premier League experience.

Ultimately, the foundations of Tottenham's faith in Frank were irreparably damaged after the home loss to relegation-threatened West Ham on 17 January.

Sources have indicated that Spurs were close to ending Frank's tenure after that defeat, which was attended by members of the Lewis family—Vivienne Lewis was confronted by an angry fan after the match.

Champions League victories over Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt bought Frank some time—but the loss to Newcastle extended Tottenham's winless league run to eight matches and proved to be the Dane's final game.

Tottenham 'weigh up short-term appointment'

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Frank dismissal needed as Spurs in danger of relegation - Shearer

Venkatesham and the club's new leadership team will now be tasked with making their first appointment.

It remains unclear whether they will seek an interim manager with a view to appointing a permanent boss in the summer, or want a full-time choice immediately.

There is certainly consideration behind the scenes for the interim option, given how drastically the managerial landscape will change in the summer.

One option until the end of the season could be John Heitinga, who joined Tottenham as an assistant coach last month. The former Netherlands defender managed Ajax this season and was part of Arne Slot's Premier League title-winning coaching staff at Liverpool.

For the long term, the most obvious development will be the potential availability of Mauricio Pochettino after the World Cup.

The USA head coach has made no secret of his desire to return to Tottenham one day—and supporters have made no secret of their wishes for him to return.

It seems like a perfect match. But Spurs will have to wait until after the World Cup to appoint Pochettino.

Even if it is not Pochettino, the likes of Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, and Marco Silva will be available for free in the summer.

Other World Cup coaches, including Thomas Tuchel, Carlo Ancelotti, and Julian Nagelsmann, may also be obtainable.

So there is logic in buying time until the summer. Equally, however, the recent availability of De Zerbi, who left Marseille on Tuesday night, may interest Spurs.

De Zerbi is viewed as someone who can make an immediate impact, a quality Tottenham could use given their slide toward the relegation zone.

Yes, he can be volatile. But if Spurs are looking for a quick effect, the Italian could fit the bill.

Sources indicate Tottenham want an appointment in place by the time the players return on Monday after a pre-planned five-day break.

Amid on-field troubles, there have also been off-field rumors for the club's hierarchy to handle—amid persistent whispers that Spurs could be sold.

This is despite it being reinforced to staff that Tottenham are not for sale. That aligns with public messaging despite industry rumors that the Lewis family are open to selling.

Former Newcastle owner Amanda Staveley has been heavily linked with continued interest in Tottenham despite a statement in September that she does not intend to make a formal offer for the club.

Other consortiums, including groups from the USA, have also been linked with interest in purchasing Spurs, while there were reports last week that Levy was looking at selling his stake in Tottenham after his departure.

Combined with the results on the pitch and the changes off it, it has been an uncertain period.

For now, though, all the focus is on the dugout and how Tottenham replace Frank.