Crystal Palace face a stumbling block in their pursuit of former Tottenham manager Thomas Frank following Pierre Sage’s dismissal.
Crystal Palace have encountered an unexpected delay in their efforts to appoint Thomas Frank as their new manager, although the former Tottenham boss remains the leading candidate to replace Pierre Sage at Selhurst Park.
According to Football Insider, Palace have already reached a verbal agreement with the 53-year-old following discussions that continued into this week. However, negotiations over the composition of his backroom staff are proving more complicated than anticipated, holding up the official announcement.
The Eagles are keen to bring several of Frank’s trusted assistants to the club and are working to reach agreements with his sizeable coaching team.
The Danish tactician brought Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam and Joe Newton with him to Tottenham, and all three departed alongside him at the start of the year. Although their involvement at Palace has not been confirmed, they could be among the individuals targeted as part of his proposed coaching setup.
The delay is not believed to threaten the appointment, with Palace still confident of securing Frank’s services. The club had initially hoped to complete the process quickly, allowing the new manager to use the international break to work with his players and prepare for the challenges ahead.
Is Frank the right guy to lead Crystal Palace?
The Eagles have stepped up their efforts after confirming Sage’s departure on November 12. Frank had emerged as their preferred candidate, with further discussions taking place after the 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim last Thursday.
While they did hold talks with Sean Dyche, Rob Edwards and Vitor Pereira, the former Brentford manager eventually emerged as the club’s preferred choice.
Frank’s recent spell at Tottenham will inevitably raise questions. He was dismissed in February after winning just seven of his 26 Premier League matches. That run resulted in them battling for survival in the top flight.
That disappointing experience has created doubts about whether he can succeed at another established Premier League side. However, his record at Brentford offers a very different picture.
Having initially worked as an assistant, Frank took charge permanently towards the end of 2018 and went on to oversee more than 300 matches. He transformed the Bees from a Championship side into an established Premier League outfit, earning considerable credit for the club’s progress.
Palace will hope that the achievements at Brentford are a better indication of what he can offer than his difficult time in North London. For now, though, they must resolve the remaining contractual details before confirming his arrival.
