Brentford set-piece coach named as front-runner to replace Thomas Frank | OneFootball

Keith Andrews is among the frontrunners to replace Thomas Frank as Brentford’s Head Coach, following the Dane’s decision to move across London to take the vacant Tottenham Hotspur job.

It is understood that Brentford did not attempt to persuade 51-year-old Frank to stay in West London when Spurs came calling after they opted to part ways with Ange Postecoglou just two weeks after the Australian delivered their first trophy since 2008.

The 44-year-old previously coached at MK Dons and Sheffield United, and has experience at international level with the Republic of Ireland. Capped 35 times as a player for his national team, he then returned to coach the U21 and senior sides.

Andrews, who is the mastermind behind the Bees’ lethal set pieces, is understood to be among a “handful of names Brentford are seriously considering,” according to Sky Sports. He arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium last summer.

Brentford scored inside the opening 40 seconds of three consecutive Premier League matches in October 2024 and scored a staggering 23 goals from set pieces, though the xG figures suggest they should have scored a whopping 16.71.

If the Bees were to appoint Andrews, it would not be the first time they opted to promote an assistant coach, with Frank having served as Dean Smith’s assistant before taking on the Head Coach role in October 2018. But while Andrews is among the leading candidates, Brentford haven’t made their decision yet – and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna is understood to also be in contention.