Tottenham Poised to Axe Frank as Xavi and Pochettino Circle

Tottenham's patience with Thomas Frank appears to have run out. The club are now seriously considering sacking their manager, with the decision potentially coming before Tuesday's Champions League showdown against Borussia Dortmund.

The trigger came on Saturday as West Ham snatched a dramatic injury-time winner, piling fresh misery on Spurs. It marked the Hammers' first Premier League victory since November 8, whilst Frank's side stretched their winless run to five matches. Across all competitions, Tottenham have managed just a single win in their last eight outings—a grim statistic that has sharpened the boardroom's focus considerably.

In the aftermath, Frank cut a philosophical figure when addressing the media. "I've probably had better times," he admitted. "It's probably not the best time of course, but I understand, I'm the man in charge, so the blame will go to me. That's fair. No problem in that sense. As long as they are backing the players, doing everything they can to support them and drive them forward, that's what we do and we will keep going forward."

Behind the scenes, however, the mood is decidedly less patient. Tottenham's hierarchy are now weighing whether to remove Frank before the Dortmund fixture, with reports suggesting senior figures intend to gauge whether the playing squad still backs the former Brentford boss. The consensus appears to be hardening: there's little confidence left that Frank can restore any semblance of authority, and a swift end to his seven-month tenure may benefit everyone involved.

John Heitinga is primed to step in as caretaker should the axe fall. As for permanent replacements, Xavi—the former Barcelona manager—is firmly in the frame, with Mauricio Pochettino also a serious contender should Frank's departure materialise.

Wayne Rooney offered a sympathetic take on Frank's predicament following the West Ham loss, speaking on Match of the Day. "I've seen Thomas Frank at the end of the game and I felt for him. I've been in that position and it's not a nice place to be," Rooney reflected. "It's a lonely place to be sometimes and especially when he'll be feeling that a change is coming. I think the Tottenham fans have spoken. We've seen it before with the Tottenham fans and they're not happy with what's going on. Unfortunately, when that happens, it looks like he'll lose his job."

Drawing on his own managerial experience, Rooney continued: "I've stood at Elland Road and I knew it was coming just after New Year. New Year's Day actually I think. Yeah, you know and it's not a nice feeling because you want the ground to swallow you up."