Tottenham dressing room fears Frank is simply biding his time before the inevitable

Thomas Frank's honeymoon period at Spurs has well and truly ended, with whispers from inside the dressing room suggesting the Dane is essentially waiting for the axe to fall.

The transformation has been stark. When Frank first arrived, he looked like a genuine step forward from Ange Postecoglou's tenure, with Tottenham genuinely competing for a top-four finish. Now? They're languishing in 14th place, cast out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa on Saturday, and haven't strung together a win in four consecutive matches. In their last seven outings, they've managed just one victory.

The financial implications of an early exit are proving as troublesome as the on-pitch malaise. Should Spurs decide to part ways with Frank now, it'll cost them roughly £20million in compensation based on his earnings through to 2028. That's a hefty price tag for a manager who's only overseen 31 matches so far.

The pressure is undeniably mounting. Supporters were heard chanting "boring, boring Tottenham" during a goalless stalemate against Brentford. The players took a battering from the travelling support after defeats to Sunderland and Bournemouth, with some exchanging heated words with fans as they trudged off.

Yet there's a curious disconnect between the dressing room's apparent pessimism and the club's official stance. Insider Pete O'Rourke suggests the hierarchy isn't actively plotting Frank's removal just yet, insisting Spurs want to afford him space to reverse the alarming decline. "They want to give him time, they want to see if he can turn things around," O'Rourke explained.

Still, those within the Tottenham ecosystem aren't convinced the patience will stretch far if results don't improve rapidly. For Frank's part, if he harbours any genuine desire to preserve his position—as any professional would—he'll need to manufacture a swift revival. The clock is ticking, and the atmosphere around the club suggests everyone knows it.