Thomas Frank is SACKED by Tottenham: Defeat by Newcastle is the final straw for sorry boss as Dane leaves Premier League club in relegation fight

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Thomas Frank just eight months after taking over the job.

The Danish star has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks as Spurs have fallen to 16th in the Premier League table, and defeat at home to Newcastle United on Tuesday was the final straw for his superiors.

The writing appeared to have been on the former Brentford manager’s wall in recent months and now his dismal spell is over.

Frank won just seven and lost 11 of his 26 league matches, leaving his side just five points clear of the relegation zone.

His team has been unable to translate their promising Champions League form into the Premier League, where Spurs have not won since December 28.

They have picked up just two points in their last six league games, and Frank and his players were heavily booed during and after the 2-1 defeat by Newcastle, while Frank was again subjected to chants of ‘he was sacked in the morning’ by his own fans.

However, the Danish player came out fighting after the match and said TottenhamIt would be a mistake to dismiss him now, before adding that he expects to be available for next Sunday’s North London derby against Arsenal.

When asked if he still believed he was the right man for the job, Frank said: ‘1000 percent sure. But I’m also 1,000 percent sure that I never expected to be in a situation like this with 11 or 12 injuries.

‘I know that when you have to build something and overcome something you have to show incredibly strong resilience. It would not be wrong to say that before me he sat here not only for Tottenham, but also for many clubs that have lost their minds.

‘We have to continue with a calm mind, keep fighting and make sure we stick together. You can only overcome this together; the board, the leaders, the players, the staff, myself and the fans.

‘I understand the mechanics of football (the easiest thing for a manager to change). However, there are many studies showing that this is not true.

‘The only thing I’m focused on is fighting to do the right thing with everyone else. Of course we’re not doing well, but with everything in life you have to keep calm and carry on.’

Asked if he would still be in charge when Arsenal visit, Frank added: ‘Yes, I believe I will be. I understand the question. It’s easy to point at me. But it’s never just the head coach or the coach or the staff or the players or the directors; everyone is involved. Everyone knows the situation we are in and what we need to improve.

‘I understand the fans’ frustration. But the club has been in this situation for two years. Clearly, we are having a hard time managing Europe and the Premier League. We need to learn to deal with this better.

‘Injuries and suspensions are of no use. Then we’re up against a Newcastle team that’s been struggling lately, but when you look at the team they’ve put on the field, it’s quite different for us.

‘Injuries need to be heavily taken into account. I didn’t say it too much, everyone can see that it affects things.’

Frank was also pressed repeatedly about his future, his relationship with the hierarchy and a message to fans who want him to leave the team in a bizarre final interview with TNT Sports.

As the interview continued, the Dane’s answers became shorter and shorter, and when the interview ended he gave the interviewer a stern look.

In preparation for the Newcastle game, Frank had danced around the ‘R’ word and done his best to avoid saying it. He used the phrase ‘relegation’ only once during the 30-minute press conference, which was dominated by questions on the subject.

The moment came in response to a parallel with Tuesday night rivals Newcastle and their team of Michael Owen, Shay Given and Damien Duff, who were relegated after being described as too good to be relegated in 2009.

Frank’s point was that if Spurs were ‘a little higher’ the questions would be about reaching ‘the top four’, but because they weren’t ‘that high’ the questions were about ‘relegation’ and either way his answer would be the same, just focused on the next game.

“There’s no doubt we’re desperate to win games,” Frank said, and he reinforced that to make an impact. ‘Hopeless.’

‘You have to be desperate when you don’t earn enough, because if you’re not desperate you don’t understand your situation. So you’re not earning enough. You need to turn it and win enough football games. ‘That’s what we want for the fans, that’s what we want for the team, that’s what we want for the club.’

But the inconvenient truth is that Spurs are deep in the relegation zone. And Frank paid the price for it.