As Thomas Frank’s departure from Brentford begins to look increasingly inevitable, club chiefs are now focusing on his successor. The Dane has reportedly agreed a deal to join Tottenham Hotspur, ending his seven-year tenure, which had seen him cement cult hero status among Bees fans.
In another hammer blow, assistant Justin Cochrane is now set to follow Frank to North London. The 43-year-old had been a leading contender to step up to the plate and replace Frank at Brentford, having worked alongside him for three seasons. With Cochrane now seemingly out of frame, chairman Cliff Crown will now look elsewhere.
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Express Sport looks closely at four names in the frame…..
Edin Terzic
If Brentford’s appointment of Frank in 2018 was a risk, given he was previously unproven in English football, the gamble paid off. Therefore, club chiefs could now go down that road again with Edin Terzic still available after leaving Borussia Dortmund 12 months ago.
In that 2023/24 campaign, Terzic led Dortmund to fifth place and qualification for the Champions League. He also led the team to the final of the competition that same season, before duly leaving the club just days after a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid. Another stint in a top European league is likely to tempt him.
Kieran McKenna
Worked wonders to get Ipswich into the Premier League, but this season fell short of keeping them there. However, the opportunity for a swift return to the top flight, with more resources available, could well appeal to the Northern Irish boss.
Having elevated Ipswich on a tight budget and built a favourable relationship with players and fans, McKenna has similar attributes to Frank. The 39-year-old may now be the ideal like-for-like replacement.
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Danny Rohl
Another figure forced to work against the grain financially during his two-year stint at Sheffield Wednesday. With the club now appearing in further turmoil, a departure for the German this summer is expected.
Rohl, 36, has guided the Owls to Championship respectability with a 12th-place finish this season. Charismatic, innovative, and the ability to instil a fighting spirit. Remind you of anyone?
Michael Carrick
Billed as a coach with a big future when he took over at Middlesbrough in October 2022. However, three successive seasons without promotion sounded the death knell for the 43-year-old.
For the Manchester United icon, though, his time is likely to come again. His coaching style is characterised by a strong emphasis on hard work on the training ground and collaborative teamwork. It would be a left-field choice, but an intriguing one.