Frank ‘Convinced’ He Will Remain in Charge at Spurs Despite Fans Turning Again

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank declared himself “convinced” he will still be in the dug-out for next Sunday’s north-London derby against Arsenal, even after a toxic night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that saw supporters call for his immediate dismissal.

The 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday was the 15th loss of Frank’s reign and left Spurs 16th in the Premier League table, only five points above the relegation places. The result also nudged the Dane’s top-flight win rate at the club down to 26.9 per cent – the lowest of any Tottenham manager in the Premier League era.

Jeers greeted Frank’s name when it was read out before kick-off, and by the closing stages those murmurs of discontent had swelled into coordinated chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and “we want Frank out”. The 52-year-old was booed again as he walked across the pitch at full-time, but he later insisted the hostility would not drive him from the post.

“Yeah, I am convinced I will be,” Frank said when asked whether he expected to lead the team against Arsenal on February 22, live on Sky Sports. “I understand the question. It is easy to point at me but it is never only the head coach, ownership, players or staff. It is everyone.”

Tottenham have lost 11 league fixtures already this campaign and have registered just one victory in their last eight top-flight outings. Frank, however, maintains the club’s predicament is the product of broader structural issues, including an injury list that has regularly kept 11 or 12 senior players unavailable.

“One thousand per cent,” he replied when asked whether he remains the right man for the job. “I’m also one thousand per cent sure I didn’t expect us to be in the position we are in with 11 to 12 injuries. There are a few before me up here at Tottenham and many other clubs that have lost their head. I have to stay calm. We have to get through this together.”

Opposite number Eddie Howe, himself under scrutiny after a winless streak, offered public sympathy. “I think you know the fine reality of this job is that it could be any of us at any moment and it’s not nice,” the Newcastle boss said. “When you look at Tottenham and you look at their injury list, it’s an incredible list of players that they’re missing… I think he’s an outstanding manager… and I hope he gets the time to show that.”

Former Spurs defender Michael Dawson told Soccer Special that the club’s hierarchy must now intervene. “The Spurs hierarchy need to come out now and say either we are backing Thomas Frank or he goes,” Dawson argued. “It’s toxic in the stadium and things are just not going right… The fans showed their disappointment.”

With 13 matches remaining and relegation fears intensifying, Frank’s conviction that he will survive may soon be tested by results – and by a board yet to offer public backing.