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According to The Sun, Palace have identified Frank as a primary candidate to succeed Glasner at the end of the current campaign. The Eagles are beginning to plan for a new era following the mutual agreement that Glasner will vacate his managerial post this summer. While the search for a successor has intensified over recent weeks, the immediate priority for the South Londoners remains Premier League survival.

Palace and Glasner are simply managing the situation for now, with the club determined to stick with him until the end of the season before appointing a new permanent boss. This arrangement allows the board to conduct a thorough recruitment process while Glasner steers the team through a testing season for the FA Cup holders. Currently, Palace sit in 14th place with 35 points, maintaining a 10-point cushion above the relegation zone.

Frank, who recently saw his tenure at north London cut short, has emerged as a frontrunner due to his extensive experience in the English top flight and his previous success across the capital with Brentford. The Danish tactician is reportedly eager for a swift return to the technical area to restore his reputation after a difficult and highly publicised stint at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Frank saw his dream move to Tottenham unravel, officially departing last February. During his brief spell, he managed 38 matches across all competitions but achieved only 13 victories, failing to instil the culture and organised style of football that made him such a success at Brentford. Despite the abrupt end to his time with Spurs, the Selhurst Park hierarchy remains heavily impressed by his overall body of work in the Premier League.

Style of play remains a non-negotiable factor for the Palace board as they sift through potential replacements. Sources within the club reportedly indicate they already have a clear idea of the profile for their next manager, looking for someone who plays a style of football remarkably similar to Glasner’s. This continuity is seen as vital to avoid a total squad overhaul and maintain an attacking philosophy.

Frank’s proven track record of developing cohesive, high-pressing teams makes him an attractive proposition for a club that prides itself on tactical discipline. A club with the budget and ambition of Palace could suit Frank perfectly, given his track record at Brentford, where he ensured they consolidated their place among England’s elite. His ability to work within a specific structure while overperforming is highly valued.

Premier League experience will be considered vital, given that Palace are keen to avoid slipping back into any future fights against relegation. The club hope that the next manager will have a calmer start, as European football, which has significantly added to the fixture congestion this season, may not be on the calendar next year.

Palace are looking for stability as much as ambition, and Frank’s experience of building teams from the ground up completely ticks both boxes. The board firmly believe that the right appointment could set the club on a path to sustained top-flight success while still maintaining their attacking, organised style. While nothing has been decided yet, his name has quickly risen to the top of the shortlist.

However, the club’s irritation peaked just days ago during their 2-1 defeat at Craven Cottage. Tottenham were left bewildered when Harry Wilson’s opening goal for Fulham was allowed to stand despite Raul Jimenez appearing to shove Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a header. The officials on the day ruled that the contact did not meet the necessary threshold for a foul, a decision that stood in stark contrast to the Kolo Muani incident. The discrepancy has left the club demanding answers over why similar physical interactions are being judged by entirely different standards from one week to the next.

Interim boss Tudor did not hold back in his assessment of the officiating following the loss to the Cottagers, echoing the sentiments now formalised in the club's letter. Tudor vented his frustration to reporters, stating: "Of course, it's a foul. Nine out of 10 people will say it's a foul, I believe, because it's so obvious, you know. Sometimes they don't understand it's enough, even small contact, you know, if it gives you an advantage to score the goal, you need to cancel this, finish it. It's not about a normal duel when he's soft, no, when he pushes with the hands and don't watch the ball, no. Sometimes it's just easy to get advantage."

The Croatian tactician has lost both of his matches since stepping in to replace Thomas Frank with the club now five games without a win in all competitions. Their last league victory came in late-December.

Tottenham’s submission to Webb is understood to be more than just a list of grievances from their own matches; it reportedly includes comparative examples from across the Premier League to highlight the lack of consistency in officiating. One such example included in the documentation is Nick Woltemade's goal for Newcastle against Arsenal in September. Despite a perceived push on Gabriel in that instance, the goal was allowed to stand. By citing external examples, Spurs are attempting to illustrate a league-wide inconsistency that they believe is unfairly impacting the integrity of match results.

Since his appointment as the PGMOL's chief refereeing officer in 2022, Webb has championed a policy of greater transparency and encouraged clubs to engage in constructive dialogue. However, the sheer volume of complaints this season suggests that the open-door policy is being tested to its limits. While Webb has used media platforms to explain the reasoning behind VAR interventions and on-field calls, the London side clearly feels that public explanations are not substituting for consistent application of the Laws of the Game.

The timing of the complaint is significant as Tottenham find themselves in a precarious position. They sit 16th in the English top-flight and just four points clear of the relegation zone, sparking fears they could drop to the Championship unless results pick up rapidly.

It remains to be seen whether this formal protest will result in a change of approach or a private apology, a trend that has become increasingly common in the Premier League era. For now, Tudor and his squad must find a way to navigate their internal crisis while hoping that their formal stance on officiating helps turn the tide of fortune in their favour for the remainder of the campaign.

Having endured their worst-ever Premier League finish in 2025-26 - when they finished in 17th place, just outside the drop zone - the alarm bells are ringing loudly once again at Tottenham in 2025-26.

Despite delivering a rare trophy with Europa League glory, Ange Postecoglou paid the price for a bleak league campaign and Spurs sought a change of approach by hiring Thomas Frank, who had excelled as head coach of Brentford. However, Frank faltered at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and was relieved of his duties in February 2026, having delivered a pitiful win percentage of 34.2 per cent during his tenure.

As discussions simmer over the possibility of Spurs being relegated from the Premier League, GOAL takes a look at when the Lilywhites last went down.

When were Tottenham last relegated?

Tottenham last suffered relegation from the top flight of English football during the 1976-77 season. It brought an end to a 27-year spell in what was then the First Division.

Spurs finished bottom of the league in 22nd place, having managed to put just 33 points on the board from 42 games. They lost 21 games overall and had the worst defensive record that season by a considerable distance, conceding 72 goals - an average concession rate of 1.7 goals per game.

Managed by Keith Burkinshaw, Spurs actually boasted a formidable squad, with talent such as Pat Jennings in goal, Glenn Hoddle in midfield and rising star Gerry Armstrong in attack. Steve Perryman, who would go on to become Tottenham's all-time record appearance-maker, was also in the group, as were the likes of John Pratt, who had won a UEFA Cup with the club in 1972, and a young Peter Taylor, fresh of a season that saw him named Crystal Palace's Player of the Year in 1976.

Despite the severe disappointment of relegation in 1977, Burkinshaw remained at the helm and the North London club bounced back immediately, returning to the First Division for the 1978-79 campaign.

Indeed, they went from strength to strength under Burkinshaw, going on to win the FA Cup in 1981 and 1982, as well as the UEFA Cup in 1984. With additions such as Osvaldo Ardiles, Ricky Villa and Ray Clemence, Tottenham became a force to be reckoned with in the early 1980s.

Since returning to the top table in 1978-79, Spurs have remained a prominent fixture, extending their participation across five decades.

PosTeamPWDLGDPts20Sunderland42111219-83421Stoke City42101418-233422Tottenham4212921-2433

What was the world like when Tottenham were last relegated?

Given that 1977 is nearly 50 years ago, a lot of younger Tottenham fans probably don't have a sense of how the world was.

In a football sense it had a familiar feel - Liverpool won the league, narrowly finishing first ahead of Manchester City (who recorded a memorable 5-0 win over Tottenham, as can be seen in the video above). Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town finished third.

Manchester United won the FA Cup and Aston Villa lifted the League Cup. Liverpool won the European Cup that season, defeating Borussia Monchengladbach 3-1 in the final, which was held in Rome.

Here is a handful of other facts from the last time Tottenham were relegated:

Jimmy Carter was the President of the United States, having won the 1976 U.S. Presidential election against the incumbent Gerald Ford.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was James Callaghan.

There were no generative AI systems such as ChatGPT or Claude, but computer scientist Douglas Lenat created AM (Automated Mathematician) - an AI 'discovery system' in 1976.

Footballers Phil Neville (January 21), Raul (June 27) and Thierry Henry (August 17) were all born in 1977. Singer Shakira (February 2), actor Michael Fassbender (April 2) and wrestler John Cena (April 23) were also born this year.

On May 25, 1977, the George Lucas film Star Wars was released in the United States. It would go on to become one of the biggest movie franchises in history.

Amnesty International was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for worldwide respect for human rights."

The Rubik's Cube (then known as the Magic Cube), became available in shops in Hungary.

Sylvester Stallone's Rocky won Best Picture at the 49th Academy Awards. Peter Finch won the Best Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of Howard Beale in Network, while Faye Dunaway won Best Actress in a Leading Role for her part as Diana Christensen in the same movie.

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Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has been particularly vocal about the defender's recent displays, suggesting he "shirked" the responsibility of leading an inexperienced backline and was "stuck in first gear". At Craven Cottage, Van de Ven was flanked by youngster Archie Gray and back-up centre-back Radu Dragusin, but he failed to provide the necessary organisation to stop the Cottagers' attack.

"Romero has taken the brunt of the criticism in Tottenham Hotspur’s leaky back line this season for his reckless and rash actions as the captain, but his suspension has exposed Micky van de Ven, who is just as culpable," Cascarino noted in his column for The Times. He added: "With the Argentina centre-back banned after his second red card of the season, against Manchester United, the armband has gone to Van de Ven in his absence. Against Arsenal, Bukayo Saka skipped past him too easily on multiple occasions, and watching him at Craven Cottage, where Spurs lost to Fulham on Sunday, I couldn’t believe I was watching a captain’s performance."

Critics have drawn parallels between Van de Ven and his compatriot Virgil van Dijk during his final days at Southampton. While Van de Ven has looked laboured in Spurs’ defence, there are fears he may already have his eye on a potential summer exit. Cascarino warned that this attitude might be a red flag for the world's biggest clubs who expect their defenders to be natural leaders.

Reflecting on the situation, Cascarino said: "The situation reminds me of the criticism that Virgil van Dijk, Van de Ven’s compatriot, faced before he made his transfer to Liverpool. He was clearly a top-quality defender at Southampton, but there were accusations that he was playing in cruise control and not being tested enough in a lesser team. Van Dijk showed he had more to give after the move, but Van de Ven needs to rise to the occasion now, with Spurs in dire form and porous at the back."

Despite the criticism, some still believe a change of scenery is necessary for the former Wolfsburg man to reach his full potential. Former Dutch international Eljero Elia recently claimed that it "fits his career to move from Tottenham to the big teams" after the upcoming World Cup. However, if his form continues to flatline, Cascarino further warns that those "big teams" may look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

For now, the focus remains on a Spurs side that looks devoid of confidence. Assessing the wreckage of the Fulham defeat, interim boss Igor Tudor was brutally honest about the state of his squad. Tudor told Sky Sports: "There are big problems here. We lacked everything. It is not just about one goal or one mistake. When you play for this club, you expect a level of fight and quality that was nowhere to be seen today. We are in a difficult moment and we need to look at ourselves."

Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has been particularly vocal about the defender's recent displays, suggesting he "shirked" the responsibility of leading an inexperienced backline and was "stuck in first gear". At Craven Cottage, Van de Ven was flanked by youngster Archie Gray and back-up centre-back Radu Dragusin, but he failed to provide the necessary organisation to stop the Cottagers' attack.

"Romero has taken the brunt of the criticism in Tottenham Hotspur’s leaky back line this season for his reckless and rash actions as the captain, but his suspension has exposed Micky van de Ven, who is just as culpable," Cascarino noted in his column for The Times. He added: "With the Argentina centre-back banned after his second red card of the season, against Manchester United, the armband has gone to Van de Ven in his absence. Against Arsenal, Bukayo Saka skipped past him too easily on multiple occasions, and watching him at Craven Cottage, where Spurs lost to Fulham on Sunday, I couldn’t believe I was watching a captain’s performance."

Critics have drawn parallels between Van de Ven and his compatriot Virgil van Dijk during his final days at Southampton. While Van de Ven has looked laboured in Spurs’ defence, there are fears he may already have his eye on a potential summer exit. Cascarino warned that this attitude might be a red flag for the world's biggest clubs who expect their defenders to be natural leaders.

Reflecting on the situation, Cascarino said: "The situation reminds me of the criticism that Virgil van Dijk, Van de Ven’s compatriot, faced before he made his transfer to Liverpool. He was clearly a top-quality defender at Southampton, but there were accusations that he was playing in cruise control and not being tested enough in a lesser team. Van Dijk showed he had more to give after the move, but Van de Ven needs to rise to the occasion now, with Spurs in dire form and porous at the back."

Despite the criticism, some still believe a change of scenery is necessary for the former Wolfsburg man to reach his full potential. Former Dutch international Eljero Elia recently claimed that it "fits his career to move from Tottenham to the big teams" after the upcoming World Cup. However, if his form continues to flatline, Cascarino further warns that those "big teams" may look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.

For now, the focus remains on a Spurs side that looks devoid of confidence. Assessing the wreckage of the Fulham defeat, interim boss Igor Tudor was brutally honest about the state of his squad. Tudor told Sky Sports: "There are big problems here. We lacked everything. It is not just about one goal or one mistake. When you play for this club, you expect a level of fight and quality that was nowhere to be seen today. We are in a difficult moment and we need to look at ourselves."

Following the final whistle, Tudor did not hold back when asked about the decisive first goal, pointing the finger at the lack of consistency from the Premier League's match officials and suggesting Jimenez "cheated". He said: "Of course it's a foul, I think. Nine out of 10 people will say it's a foul, I believe, because it's so obvious, you know. Sometimes they don't understand it's enough, even small contact, you know, if it gives you an advantage to score the goal, you need to cancel this, finish it. It's not about a normal duel when he's soft, no, when he pushes with the hands and don't watch the ball, no. Sometimes it's just easy to get advantage.

"So, this is ridiculous to not give the foul, because the consequence is too big. It's not a small foul in the middle of the pitch, it's a goal after. So, there is a logic in that, so the referee, beautiful thing to keep playing here, let's play strong, duel, it's fantastic, I like it. But there is a logic, if the goal is, because he take advantage, not thinking about football, he was not thinking about the ball, he was thinking how to cheat. So, he cheated the player with pushing and they scored the goal. So, it's a logic, it's a cheating and there's the foul.

"It's not the thing of duel and they want that here is a football is more, you know, tough and we like the duels, it's nothing with that. So, there was no logic in this decision and logic is above everything, after come other things."

The manager’s assessment of the performance was even more damning than his critique of the referees. Tudor was blunt about the deficiencies displayed by his players on the pitch, suggesting that the problems currently plaguing the club are not easily fixed. "There are big problems here," Tudor added to Sky Sports. "We lacked everything. It is not just about one goal or one mistake. When you play for this club, you expect a level of fight and quality that was nowhere to be seen today. We are in a difficult moment and we need to look at ourselves."

The winless streak, which now stands at double digits, has put Tudor under immense pressure. The manager’s admission that the team "lacked everything" is a worrying sign for the Spurs faithful, who have watched their team struggle for domestic form for over two months. The lack of cohesion and tactical discipline at Craven Cottage highlighted a side that looks increasingly devoid of confidence, and Tudor’s honest admission suggests that the "big problems" he identified may take more than just a training session to resolve.

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Tudor, tasked with steering the north London club away from the Premier League relegation zone, has wasted no time in implementing a 'shock-and-awe' regime designed to fix what he perceives as a major fitness deficit. Following a humbling 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in his first game at the helm, Tudor has made it clear that the luxury of comfort is no longer an option for his underperforming stars. Tudor’s philosophy is rooted in high-intensity pressing, a style he believes is currently impossible to execute given the state of the squad. He has been unapologetic about the workload, insisting that the only way out of their current slump is through pure physical exertion.

The former Marseille and Lazio boss has immediately implemented a gruelling fitness regime, prioritising conditioning for a squad he believes has showed signs of physical decline. When questioned on whether he was pushing the players to their limits, Tudor wants Tottenham 'soldiers' to fight and noted that work on the training ground is non-negotiable.

"I put some runs without the ball. Never players like runs without the ball so we put some runs without balls [into the sessions]," Tudor admitted as reported by The Telegraph. "But it’s a moment when there is no time to think too much about what somebody doesn’t like. And the best thing is that they understand this. So they gave me their availability to do these things."

"Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation. They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it meant the physical condition of the team has dropped down. So we need to use this period where we don’t play the games to put some petrol in the engine, so the engine starts to work better."

With several senior players still sidelined, Tudor is increasingly reliant on the club’s younger contingent. He has challenged these starlets to abandon any excuses and embrace the responsibility of saving Tottenham’s season. "Some players are still young," Tudor noted. "They were brought here to help and now maybe they are in a moment where they need to resolve the problems. So, if you have too many of these players because of the amount of injuries who are playing together in the squad, it does create some problems."

The manager’s message to the academy graduates and young signings is clear: it is time to grow up. "But it is also an opportunity and a challenge to grow fast, to become a man," he added. "To grow fast and say, ‘Come on, I’m the guy, give me the ball, I will score’ instead of just, ‘What can I do, I’m just here you know’. This is the challenge for each of them. Why not? To say, ‘Come on, give me the ball, I will not cry, I will take the ball, I will defend my box’."

Tottenham currently sit in a precarious 16th position in the Premier League table, and the threat of the drop is becoming uncomfortably real for the north London giants. With a trip to Fulham on the horizon, the pressure is mounting on Tudor to find a winning formula. The coach has been bolstered by the return of Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso to training, but he remains coy on which members of the squad have truly bought into his combative and demanding philosophy.

Ultimately, Tudor is searching for a specific mentality to drag Spurs out of their current slump, though he is keeping his evaluations private for now. When asked if he had identified enough "soldiers" within the dressing room to survive the relegation scrap, the Croatian offered a cryptic response. "I will tell you when the season finishes," he said, leaving the players in no doubt that their places and futures are under constant scrutiny as they prepare for a defining run of fixtures.

Tudor, tasked with steering the north London club away from the Premier League relegation zone, has wasted no time in implementing a 'shock-and-awe' regime designed to fix what he perceives as a major fitness deficit. Following a humbling 4-1 defeat to Arsenal in his first game at the helm, Tudor has made it clear that the luxury of comfort is no longer an option for his underperforming stars. Tudor’s philosophy is rooted in high-intensity pressing, a style he believes is currently impossible to execute given the state of the squad. He has been unapologetic about the workload, insisting that the only way out of their current slump is through pure physical exertion.

The former Marseille and Lazio boss has immediately implemented a gruelling fitness regime, prioritising conditioning for a squad he believes has showed signs of physical decline. When questioned on whether he was pushing the players to their limits, Tudor wants Tottenham 'soldiers' to fight and noted that work on the training ground is non-negotiable.

"I put some runs without the ball. Never players like runs without the ball so we put some runs without balls [into the sessions]," Tudor admitted as reported by The Telegraph. "But it’s a moment when there is no time to think too much about what somebody doesn’t like. And the best thing is that they understand this. So they gave me their availability to do these things."

"Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation. They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it meant the physical condition of the team has dropped down. So we need to use this period where we don’t play the games to put some petrol in the engine, so the engine starts to work better."

With several senior players still sidelined, Tudor is increasingly reliant on the club’s younger contingent. He has challenged these starlets to abandon any excuses and embrace the responsibility of saving Tottenham’s season. "Some players are still young," Tudor noted. "They were brought here to help and now maybe they are in a moment where they need to resolve the problems. So, if you have too many of these players because of the amount of injuries who are playing together in the squad, it does create some problems."

The manager’s message to the academy graduates and young signings is clear: it is time to grow up. "But it is also an opportunity and a challenge to grow fast, to become a man," he added. "To grow fast and say, ‘Come on, I’m the guy, give me the ball, I will score’ instead of just, ‘What can I do, I’m just here you know’. This is the challenge for each of them. Why not? To say, ‘Come on, give me the ball, I will not cry, I will take the ball, I will defend my box’."

Tottenham currently sit in a precarious 16th position in the Premier League table, and the threat of the drop is becoming uncomfortably real for the north London giants. With a trip to Fulham on the horizon, the pressure is mounting on Tudor to find a winning formula. The coach has been bolstered by the return of Pedro Porro and Kevin Danso to training, but he remains coy on which members of the squad have truly bought into his combative and demanding philosophy.

Ultimately, Tudor is searching for a specific mentality to drag Spurs out of their current slump, though he is keeping his evaluations private for now. When asked if he had identified enough "soldiers" within the dressing room to survive the relegation scrap, the Croatian offered a cryptic response. "I will tell you when the season finishes," he said, leaving the players in no doubt that their places and futures are under constant scrutiny as they prepare for a defining run of fixtures.