Tottenham Hotspur and Thomas Frank parted ways earlier this year, but could be on the same pitch for the foreseeable future.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank is believed to be on Crystal Palace’s radar. Frank, 53, was sacked by the north Londoners in February, where he left Spurs in 16th place.
The Dane was identified as a Palace target soon after his departure and has been linked with him again eight months later. The Eagles are currently managed by the under-pressure Pierre Sage, who recently saw his side thrashed 5-0 by fierce rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
Palace were 3-0 down at the Amex Stadium inside 10 minutes, where they were picked apart by the Seagulls and booed by jubilant home fans. They have also won just two of their first seven Premier League games this season.
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The Guardian understands that the former Lyon boss is willing to give the former boss some time to sort out the club’s defensive and injury problems. However, Sage is believed to have been “warned” that the situation will improve dramatically after the horror show against Brighton.
The pummeling also means that no team in the Premier League has conceded as many goals as Palace’s 17 this season. Palace chairman Steve Parish revealed that Sage is under pressure, although the French manager is expected to be in charge of the Europa League clash with Besiktas and the home game against Newcastle United.
Former Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and Frank are believed to be the main candidates if the club decide to sack Sage. If the Frenchman leaves after the game against Newcastle on October 25, Frank could return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as manager of the south Londoners if he is appointed before Halloween.
Palace and Spurs will meet in north London on October 31, while Palace will face Fulham in the fourth round of the League Cup on October 28.
It would be quite the reunion, especially if he could get a win over his former employers, who beat Coventry City 3-1 to move up to 16th. In the summer, Frank concluded that it would be too soon for him to return to management.
In a statement ahead of the World Cup, which saw him do pundit roles for the BBC and Danish television, he said he wanted to take some time away from football to be with his family. He also admitted to rejecting some approaches from other clubs interested in his services.
He said: “Leaving Tottenham has given me a chance to step back and reflect on my journey so far. Football management is a profession that requires full commitment every day and times like this are a rare opportunity to assess, learn and gain a new perspective.
“From the outside, it may have looked like a period of many difficulties at Tottenham, where the results were not what we wanted. But from the inside, it is clear why the club is so special – it is full of talented people who work tirelessly every day. I have no doubt that Tottenham have a bright future.”
He also added: “There have been talks and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role. For me, this summer is not the right time to return to management. When the time is right, I will look forward to returning as a manager ready to take on the job with great energy and dedication.”
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