Tottenham are now on the hunt for their next manager after making the decision to dismiss Ange Postecoglou but already face a huge hurdle in their pursuit of their preferred option
Tottenham already have Brentford boss Thomas Frank right at the top of their managerial shortlist – but there’s a major £10m problem to overcome first. The North London side have their eyes on the Dane in the aftermath of sacking Ange Postecoglou.
The Australian was brutally axed after two years in the job following a dismal Premier League campaign. Chairman Daniel Levy made the decision to change manager just a few weeks after the ex-Celtic boss ended the club’s long trophy drought by winning the Europa League.
A number of names have been mentioned as potential replacements for Postecoglou but one option has emerged above the rest: Frank. He has a number of admirers for his work with the Bees having established them as a stable Premier League outfit.
And while he is the outstanding candidate for the role, the finances behind it could potentially prove problematic. Spurs face an eye-watering bill of over £10m should they want to make a move for Frank.
He currently has two years left on his contract with Brentford, with a huge buy-out clause written into that deal. There is also a belief that Frank has a gentleman’s agreement with his current side to remain for a further campaign, albeit that resolve could be tested should Spurs activate his release clause.
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Away from Frank’s release clause, Spurs have also had to fork out after deciding to sack Postecoglou. A severance package of around £5m has been agreed with him and his staff, while the North London side also paid around £2m in a bonus for their Europa League success.
Postecoglou’s potential replacement Frank has already spoken out on his future. But he denied that he was planning on leaving Brentford any time soon.
He said: “Right now, of course, I am committed. I just lost to Fulham, our local rivals, so [I am] fuming in every aspect. So yes, I am committed like I have always been.”
Spurs’ statement confirming Postecoglou’s departure on Friday read: “We are extremely grateful to Ange for his commitment and contribution during his two years at the Club. Ange will always be remembered as only the third manager in our history to deliver a European trophy, alongside legendary figures Bill Nicholson and Keith Burkinshaw.
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“However, the Board has unanimously concluded that it is in the best interests of the Club for a change to take place. Following a positive start in the 2023/24 Premier League (PL) season, we recorded 78 points from the last 66 PL games. This culminated in our worst-ever PL finish last season.
“At times there were extenuating circumstances – injuries and then a decision to prioritise our European campaign. Whilst winning the Europa League this season ranks as one of the Club’s greatest moments, we cannot base our decision on emotions aligned to this triumph.
“It is crucial that we are able to compete on multiple fronts and believe a change of approach will give us the strongest chance for the coming season and beyond. This has been one of the toughest decisions we have had to make and is not a decision that we have taken lightly, nor one we have rushed to conclude. We have made what we believe is the right decision to give us the best chance of success going forward, not the easy decision.”
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