Thomas Frank reportedly agrees Crystal Palace job, with ex-Spurs assistants set to follow
Former Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank has reportedly agreed to take over at bottom-placed Crystal Palace after Pierre Sage's dismissal. Several of the staff who left Spurs alongside him are expected to join him, though Palace have yet to confirm the appointment.
Thomas Frank is poised to return to Premier League management with Crystal Palace. The former Tottenham head coach agreed terms on Thursday, RoundTable reported. The appointment is being held up while Palace negotiate contracts for the backroom staff he wants to bring with him.
Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard, members of Sage’s coaching staff, went with him. The club promised an update on its search for a new manager later.
The man Tottenham dismissed is now set to resurface at a club in the same division.
Frank’s former Spurs assistants are expected to join him
Frank is not expected to arrive alone. Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton are expected to join him at Palace. Cochrane and Haslam both worked under him at Tottenham.
Haslam had returned to the Danish FA after leaving Spurs. He worked there as fitness coach for the national team. A move to Palace would bring him back into English club football.
The Spurs staff of the Frank era has now effectively split in two. Andreas Georgson, Fabian Otte and Cameron Campbell also came in under Frank. They remained at Tottenham after he was sacked.
For Spurs, the split shapes the legacy of his brief spell in charge. Part of the structure he built is still in place at Spurs. Another part now looks set to follow him to a direct Premier League rival.
Tottenham’s statement on his exit was blunt. The club said results and performances had convinced the Board a mid-season change was needed. It also thanked him for his commitment during his time at the club.
Frank’s task at Palace starts at the foot of the table
The size of the task facing Frank is clear from the table. Palace have also now changed manager mid-season.
Any revival would also be measured against Spurs. Frank was dismissed because Tottenham’s board wanted change. A strong run at Palace would invite comparisons with the club that let him go.
For now, everything hinges on the backroom deals. Frank is expected to lead Palace at Coventry once contracts for Cochrane, Haslam and Newton are agreed.
