Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Tottenham Executive Pushes for Frank Exit as Pochettino Signals Willingness to Return

January 17, 2026
Tottenham Executive Pushes for Frank Exit as Pochettino Signals Willingness to Return
Tottenham Executive Pushes for Frank Exit as Pochettino Signals Willingness to Return

Thomas Frank's grip on the Tottenham hotseat is loosening by the day. The Spurs manager finds himself among the betting favourites for the Premier League's next managerial casualty, with the north London outfit's recent form nothing short of calamitous.

Brought in to steady the ship after Ange Postecoglou's tumultuous tenure, Frank has instead swung the pendulum too far in the opposite direction. His cautious, pragmatic approach has left supporters restless, and with good reason—Spurs have managed just two victories from their last 13 league outings.

Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to relegation-battlers West Ham proved the final straw for at least one member of Tottenham's hierarchy. BBC Sport understands that an executive has actively raised the prospect of terminating Frank's employment in recent weeks. While the club had previously maintained their backing, the embarrassment of losing to a struggling West Ham side has thrust his position into genuine jeopardy.

The club's decision-makers now face a critical fork in the road: act swiftly or afford Frank the opportunity to reverse the alarming trajectory.

Pochettino Circles Back

Tottenham's search for potential successors has already begun in earnest, with former manager Mauricio Pochettino firmly in the frame. The current United States boss has made little secret of his desire to unfinish some unfinished business at White Hart Lane.

Pochettino heads the shortlist of leading candidates, and crucially, he has signalled his receptiveness to a return. Those close to the Argentine have confirmed he harbours genuine ambitions about another stint with the club, having never quite achieved the silverware many felt his tenure deserved.

Football Insider reports suggest the door remains very much open for a summer appointment, though any move would likely wait until the season's conclusion. Nevertheless, Pochettino's experience and pedigree would represent a significant statement of intent from the Spurs board.

The Interim Question

Former Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara has weighed in with his own thoughts on how the club should navigate the immediate crisis. He advocates for an interim solution through to the campaign's end—ideally someone with an affiliation to the club's colours.

O'Hara's preference? Robbie Keane, the club's legendary striker, though he acknowledges the practical difficulties of prising him away from his current commitments unless a permanent role materialised.

Looking further ahead, O'Hara's dream scenario involves Xabi Alonso taking the reins. The Athletic Bilbao manager represents the gold standard in modern football management, though O'Hara himself concedes the likelihood of Tottenham landing such a prize remains remote. Still, in football, you never quite know what might transpire.

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