Phil Giles reveals key reason why Brentford chose Keith Andrews as replacement for Thomas Frank | OneFootball

Summer of change at Brentford after departure of Frank and with key players set to leave

Brentford director of football Phil Giles says the decision to appoint Keith Andrews as head coach was driven by a desire for continuity after the departure of long-serving head coach Thomas Frank.

Given the upheaval, Brentford have opted to promote from within, handing Andrews, who was appointed Brentford’s set-piece coach last summer, his first opportunity as a head coach.

“Keith is a very good fit,” said Giles, who was part of the process that saw Frank promoted from within when he became head coach after Dean Smith left for Aston Villa in 2018.

“He gets on with everyone, he’s very open, and he’s a learner. Keith is clear in what he wants, he’s detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him.

“He understands the players in the building and the way we’ve played and trained under Thomas Frank.

“Keith will bring his own evolution but isn’t starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress.

“He’s a very good coach and has clear ideas about how he wants the team to improve. We were looking for somebody not just to maintain what we’ve been doing but actually try and get better.”

Andrews was previously assistant to Karl Robinson at former club MK Dons and was also assistant to Stephen Kenny for Ireland’s senior and Under-21 teams. Before joining Brentford, he was a coach at Sheffield United.

The 44-year-old takes charge during a summer of significant change for Brentford, but there is confidence within the club that Andrews is the man to lead the Bees into their fifth successive season in the Premier League.