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John83
16/06/2025, 11:55 AM
I can be pessimistic without wishing a fellow ill. If he gets it, good luck to him.

Eirambler
17/06/2025, 12:21 PM
Absolutely, I don't think anyone is wishing ill on him by any means. The problem is that we all saw him standing on the sideline in the Ireland setup looking absolutely clueless during matches with the equally clueless Stephen Kenny alongside him. Kenny couldn't even get a look in at Lincoln after he got the boot from the Ireland job so it's understandable that most here will think Andrews is going to be in way over his head at Brentford.

Diggs246
17/06/2025, 4:17 PM
There seems to be a deafening silence from @EalingGreen

liamoo11
17/06/2025, 4:23 PM
This is a gag right?!

I feel incredibly sorry for Brentford, what are they thinking

I just assume you will get to bring in a few of your own people if you get the job and wondered would Kenny be one of those. It would surely be a good opportunity for Kenny if it was an option

seanfhear
17/06/2025, 4:57 PM
There seems to be a deafening silence from @EalingGreenMaybe Keith Andrews is interviewing him for a job ?

EalingGreen
17/06/2025, 11:04 PM
There seems to be a deafening silence from @EalingGreenSpeculation seems to be moving away from KA, with Francesco Farioli (ex-Ajax) the latest name said to be in the frame - some poster on the main Bees forum claiming to be itk threw his name into the pot earlier today.

Mind you, those bookies still offering odds on KA (only a few, mind) still have him odds-on - the others may just be protecting themselves just in case. While Farioli is short odds against, as low as 2/1.

Of course this is all still highly speculative - Brentford are noted for keeping their business in-house, with no leaks or announcements until all is signed and sealed.

EalingGreen
17/06/2025, 11:08 PM
I just assume you will get to bring in a few of your own people if you get the job and wondered would Kenny be one of those. It would surely be a good opportunity for Kenny if it was an option

The way BFC do these things is to allow any outside appointment to bring in his own No.2, but the club appoints the rest of the management team. Of course KA counts as internal, but I still think he would be similarly constrained, seeing as he is still inexperienced and without a huge contacts book, I'd imagine?

CraftyToePoke
17/06/2025, 11:59 PM
BBM to Cardiff signed & sealed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj42440qqvdo

Big fish club in that L1 pond. Big career opportunity.
A touch lucky to get it maybe, Leicester were appalling in his time in their set up. Clubs in free fall do seem to like him, best of luck to him in demonstrating why that is, third time lucky.

EalingGreen
18/06/2025, 5:22 PM
Maybe Keith Andrews is interviewing him for a job ?Actually I've just finished interviewing him.

Didn't go too well, since I could hardly get past the accent. :)

Eirambler
19/06/2025, 12:26 PM
BBM to Cardiff signed & sealed.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cj42440qqvdo

Big fish club in that L1 pond. Big career opportunity.
A touch lucky to get it maybe, Leicester were appalling in his time in their set up. Clubs in free fall do seem to like him, best of luck to him in demonstrating why that is, third time lucky.

Yes, this is his shot. They should be a standout team at that level so will be interesting to see how he gets on.

elatedscum
23/06/2025, 3:19 PM
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c3w48p7n014o

Eirambler
23/06/2025, 6:24 PM
Sounds like they've scouted around looking for someone better unsuccessfully and now they've gone back to him. He's kind of like a John O'Shea/Neil Lennon type here, hanging around for long enough in the hope that other options will fall away and he'll be given the job in the end.

EalingGreen
24/06/2025, 1:37 PM
Sounds like they've scouted around looking for someone better unsuccessfully and now they've gone back to him. He's kind of like a John O'Shea/Neil Lennon type here, hanging around for long enough in the hope that other options will fall away and he'll be given the job in the end.That is NOT how Brentford do these things. While he's only been at the club for a year, so hardly "hanging around", in the sense of "Dead Man's Shoes" etc.

Quite honestly (and assuming KA is appointed) the first reaction of every Bees fan on hearing that he was in the running was "Wtf?"

But after some reflection, it became: "Well if the club think he's the right choice, then who are we to question it?".

Colbert Report
24/06/2025, 3:08 PM
Sounds like former Irish standout winger Damien Duff has resigned from a LoI club over the weekend.

Eirambler
24/06/2025, 6:39 PM
That is NOT how Brentford do these things. While he's only been at the club for a year, so hardly "hanging around", in the sense of "Dead Man's Shoes" etc.

Quite honestly (and assuming KA is appointed) the first reaction of every Bees fan on hearing that he was in the running was "Wtf?"

But after some reflection, it became: "Well if the club think he's the right choice, then who are we to question it?".

It's not how I would expect Brentford to do things. But it appears to be where we are. Let's face it, if they were all in on Andrews they'd have hired him a couple of weeks ago.

Eirambler
24/06/2025, 6:40 PM
Sounds like former Irish standout winger Damien Duff has resigned from a LoI club over the weekend.

Duff was managing in the League of Ireland? You'd never have known.

CraftyToePoke
24/06/2025, 8:27 PM
But after some reflection, it became: "Well if the club think he's the right choice, then who are we to question it?".

We'll see where the Bees hive mind are on this mid to late October if indeed KA is the chosen one.
I use the word chosen loosely, clearly their highly vaunted process has had an experience similar to whatever processes were going on inside that Iranian mountain, if KA ends up driving this particular bus.

EalingGreen
25/06/2025, 12:07 AM
We'll see where the Bees hive mind are on this mid to late October if indeed KA is the chosen one.
I use the word chosen loosely, clearly their highly vaunted process has had an experience similar to whatever processes were going on inside that Iranian mountain, if KA ends up driving this particular bus.Over the last couple of seasons Frank was linked with/interviewed for a number of jobs - apparently was second choice to Emery at Villa and in the running for Chelsea. Man U were also said to have considered him when they appointed ETH.

Meaning they'll have been planning for TF's possible departure long before Spurs began sniffing around. (It's the same with every big player they sign - they're scouting possible replacements virtually from the minute the new signing arrives).

Which is not to say KA will be a success, assuming he's appointed. But if you look at their record in this respect since Benham took over, all their managers bar one have moved to a bigger/better job, having left the club in a better position than when he took over: Rosler, Warburton, Dijkhuizen, Carsley (interim), Smith and Frank. As a "hit rate", that's about as good as any club in England in that time, and better than the vast majority.

The one failure from the list was Dijkhuizen, appointed from within at the beginning of the summer. He was sacked by September, after something like 8 or 9 games. But what makes this instructive is that the club didn't "give him until Xmas, see how it goes etc", nor did they try to blame anyone/something else. Instead the owner held up his hand, admitted he'd got it wrong and acted decisively the moment it became apparent.

Contrast that eg with Thomas Frank, another little-known internal appointment, whose first 10 games saw 1 win, 1 draw and 8 defeats. When fans were saying he was another mistake, Benham just listened to what the stats were teling him (i.e. performances were good, even if the results weren't), held his nerve and reaped the reward.

CraftyToePoke
25/06/2025, 1:12 PM
Martin O'Neill is becoming a particularly embittered little man.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0625/1520242-oneill-hopes-vitriolic-critic-andrews-gets-bees-job/



"He has been their set-piece coach. The irony is when I was manager of the Republic of Ireland he was a particularly vitriolic critic of mine at the time. He was really dead against me trying to use setpieces to try to win games," said the former Leicester City, Celtic, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest manager.

I hope he does get it because then he will realise what management is all about. It's not as easy to be sitting in a pundit's chair sitting to criticise someone who in all honesty had a much better career than he had.

"He was dealing at the bottom end of it when I was winning the European Cup. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be criticising. Everyone to their own. But it'll be a different ball game now."

OwlsFan
25/06/2025, 1:36 PM
Martin never took criticism very well. Embittered yes but I would never call him a "little man". He gave us (Ireland) a few great moments but pundits (Irish ones in particular) make a living having at go at the incumbent Irish manager and Martin should have been aware of that when he took the job.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/pure-torture-former-ireland-internationals-criticise-martin-oneills-tactics-as-republic-smashed-in-world-cup-play-off/36320899.html

"Asked about the tactics, Andrews replied: "Clueless. Absolutely clueless - to allow players like they have the space, the time in the key areas of the pitch. The substitutions; even Ciaran Clark coming off, unless he's injured, and Ward going centre-half. I really don't know what I've witnessed tonight - no holding midfielder. Lack of cohesion. It was gung ho football and there was only going to be one winner.

"That half was pure torture. I can't believe what I've witnessed. We talked about getting the balance right. I've just witnessed gung ho football."

elatedscum
25/06/2025, 3:05 PM
Martin never took criticism very well. Embittered yes but I would never call him a "little man". He gave us (Ireland) a few great moments but pundits (Irish ones in particular) make a living having at go at the incumbent Irish manager and Martin should have been aware of that when he took the job.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/pure-torture-former-ireland-internationals-criticise-martin-oneills-tactics-as-republic-smashed-in-world-cup-play-off/36320899.html

"Asked about the tactics, Andrews replied: "Clueless. Absolutely clueless - to allow players like they have the space, the time in the key areas of the pitch. The substitutions; even Ciaran Clark coming off, unless he's injured, and Ward going centre-half. I really don't know what I've witnessed tonight - no holding midfielder. Lack of cohesion. It was gung ho football and there was only going to be one winner.

"That half was pure torture. I can't believe what I've witnessed. We talked about getting the balance right. I've just witnessed gung ho football."

Everything he said is correct. That was so mental - every decision during the match (and a few before it) were totally wrong. To take off Meyler who was the only person keeping a lid of Eriksen. Madness. To do that, and to also take off Arter at the same time, even worse and to then play two No.10s leaving Hendrick dealing with 3 midfielders, gaps everywhere, and Eriksen scores. Then he moves Ward to centre back (to bring on Shane Long), Ward who was also responsible for the second goal immediately puts it on a plate for Eriksen to score the fourth and totally end the tie. Wes for Arter would have been fine. Might have got us back in the game.

CraftyToePoke
25/06/2025, 4:27 PM
Martin never took criticism very well. Embittered yes but I would never call him a "little man"

I wouldn't have either one time and he's the managerial appointment I've been most enthused by in my time following the side. I vaguely remember Jack being appointed but do remember Euro88, for reference. Furthermore I take no pleasure in calling him that, but the cap is starting to fit. Didn't most chapters in his book end with, basically him saying ; they wouldn't listen but they saw I was right in the end, FFS.

He carries personal grudges about comments made on his work as a very well paid manager, managing disgracefully towards the end. It was shambolic. But he misses no opportunity to have a little bite back.

Wait till Andrews gets the job ( if he does ) and critique him objectively then by all means but no, he couldn't resist a little kick & every time he opens his mouth he does his legacy further damage.

Didn't he cry one time as well our fanbase & sporting public didn’t warm to him as he was a six counties man. A sporting public up till all hours cheering Rory McIlroy on there lately is it Martin ?

OwlsFan
26/06/2025, 10:18 AM
I just don't agree with the term "little man" implying a Joe Bloggs of no particular fame or accomplishment. An embittered successful player and manager who just couldn't handle criticism of any shape or form no doubt. His after-match interviews with Tony O'Donoghue were battles royale, not helped by the latter's sometimes needling questions. We all carry resentment of what we perceive are unjustified criticisms but you have to let them go, otherwise they would just eat away at you but Martin alas can't.

Fixer82
26/06/2025, 10:38 AM
The wheels came off for O'Neill after there Euros. had he not signed a new contract after that he'd be considered a hero to ROI fans.

The Euro 2016 qualifiers and Euros brought some absolute magic moments and a spirit that we'd hadn't probably seen since McCarthy was in charge (with much better players).

Say what you want about O'Neill but under his tenure we had McGeady's double V Georgia away, Hendrick's trickery V Georgia at home, O'Shea's late equaliser V Germany, Long's late equaliser V Poland, Long V Germany, play-off V Bosnia, Hoolahan V Sweden, Brady V Italy and Brady's penalty V France (who should've won the tournament).

Some magic moments that I, as a fan, will always savour.

jbyrne
26/06/2025, 12:32 PM
The wheels came off for O'Neill after there Euros. had he not signed a new contract after that he'd be considered a hero to ROI fans.

The Euro 2016 qualifiers and Euros brought some absolute magic moments and a spirit that we'd hadn't probably seen since McCarthy was in charge (with much better players).

Say what you want about O'Neill but under his tenure we had McGeady's double V Georgia away, Hendrick's trickery V Georgia at home, O'Shea's late equaliser V Germany, Long's late equaliser V Poland, Long V Germany, play-off V Bosnia, Hoolahan V Sweden, Brady V Italy and Brady's penalty V France (who should've won the tournament).

Some magic moments that I, as a fan, will always savour.

not to forget the wins away to wales and austria in that 2018 wc campaign.
it could be argued that wc qualification was going to plan until that home denmark play off leg...... who honestly wasnt making plans for travelling to the wc following the nil all away to Denmark in the first leg? No one saw that 1-5 hammering coming

CraftyToePoke
26/06/2025, 1:59 PM
I just don't agree with the term "little man" implying a Joe Bloggs of no particular fame or accomplishment. An embittered successful player and manager who just couldn't handle criticism of any shape or form no doubt. His after-match interviews with Tony O'Donoghue were battles royale, not helped by the latter's sometimes needling questions. We all carry resentment of what we perceive are unjustified criticisms but you have to let them go, otherwise they would just eat away at you but Martin alas can't.

I am a board veteran Owly, but you are a board grandee so I am not going to take a sledge to this like I would with some of the others, I'd knock days out of it with some of them. We'll agree to disagree. Think you mentioned retirement once on here ? If you did, I hope it is treating you well.

Predator
26/06/2025, 2:28 PM
not to forget the wins away to wales and austria in that 2018 wc campaign.
it could be argued that wc qualification was going to plan until that home denmark play off leg...... who honestly wasnt making plans for travelling to the wc following the nil all away to Denmark in the first leg? No one saw that 1-5 hammering coming
I'd really need to watch the whole game again to see where exactly it went wrong again, but it really was going to plan since we went 1-0 up in that game too. Another set-piece goal, which was followed by two great chances for Daryl Murphy and James McClean. I remember the Danish equaliser was really lucky on their part. Cyrus Christie had a nightmare trying to clear and scored an own goal...

Just re-watched the highlights and Stephen Ward was atrocious for the second goal a few minutes later. Very poor for an experienced player. That concession just before half-time turned the game entirely. Two bad individual mistakes changed the complexion of the game and O'Neill clearly decided in the dressing room they had to go for it. A gamble that backfired spectacularly.

tetsujin1979
26/06/2025, 2:38 PM
The wheels came off for O'Neill after there Euros. had he not signed a new contract after that he'd be considered a hero to ROI fans.

The Euro 2016 qualifiers and Euros brought some absolute magic moments and a spirit that we'd hadn't probably seen since McCarthy was in charge (with much better players).

Say what you want about O'Neill but under his tenure we had McGeady's double V Georgia away, Hendrick's trickery V Georgia at home, O'Shea's late equaliser V Germany, Long's late equaliser V Poland, Long V Germany, play-off V Bosnia, Hoolahan V Sweden, Brady V Italy and Brady's penalty V France (who should've won the tournament).

Some magic moments that I, as a fan, will always savour.
For me, the sliding doors moment in his reign is Seamus Coleman's injury against Wales. Before that, we were top of the table, unbeaten, and with a strong chance of qualifying automatically. Without Coleman, we didn't win again in the group until the double header against Armenia and Wales at the end of the campaign

seanfhear
26/06/2025, 3:24 PM
For me, the sliding doors moment in his reign is Seamus Coleman's injury against Wales. Before that, we were top of the table, unbeaten, and with a strong chance of qualifying automatically. Without Coleman, we didn't win again in the group until the double header against Armenia and Wales at the end of the campaignThat Séamus
Coleman injury was a major disaster for Séamus and us, and for some years after. It could be said that before the injury he was one of the only top level players that we had. And unfortunately for Séamus and us, I don't think he was ever the same player again and particularly fitness wise !

pineapple stu
26/06/2025, 3:55 PM
not to forget the wins away to wales and austria in that 2018 wc campaign.
it could be argued that wc qualification was going to plan until that home denmark play off leg...... who honestly wasnt making plans for travelling to the wc following the nil all away to Denmark in the first leg? No one saw that 1-5 hammering coming
Yep - always felt the second half was just a major press of the panic buttons. Disastrous and chaotic, sure, as others have rightly noted, but unfair to judge his tenure based on it. We were going backwards of course - though not entirely MON's fault given we've continued to go backwards since.

elatedscum
26/06/2025, 6:02 PM
I'd really need to watch the whole game again to see where exactly it went wrong again, but it really was going to plan since we went 1-0 up in that game too. Another set-piece goal, which was followed by two great chances for Daryl Murphy and James McClean. I remember the Danish equaliser was really lucky on their part. Cyrus Christie had a nightmare trying to clear and scored an own goal...

Just re-watched the highlights and Stephen Ward was atrocious for the second goal a few minutes later. Very poor for an experienced player. That concession just before half-time turned the game entirely. Two bad individual mistakes changed the complexion of the game and O'Neill clearly decided in the dressing room they had to go for it. A gamble that backfired spectacularly.

At the time, Ward had a really rough year prior to that and basically hadn't had a good game for us in that period and it was fairly obvious that he was done, and Brady should have been playing left back, which he had done previously for Ireland. Wes should also have started. Matt Doherty also hadn't been included in the squad despite being the best fullback in the championship.

From my memory, the first goal, Arter gets beaten a bit easily at the short corner, it goes to the back post and it's actually not going in, it's going straight off the back post to Randolph, where it hits Christie who is trying to react and clear. The second goal, Ward loses it really badly from our possession. Third goal is just caused by a gap in the midfield. Fourth is Ward making a hames of a clearance. Fifth was a stoppage time penalty.

Predator
27/06/2025, 9:03 AM
At the time, Ward had a really rough year prior to that and basically hadn't had a good game for us in that period and it was fairly obvious that he was done, and Brady should have been playing left back, which he had done previously for Ireland. Wes should also have started. Matt Doherty also hadn't been included in the squad despite being the best fullback in the championship.

From my memory, the first goal, Arter gets beaten a bit easily at the short corner, it goes to the back post and it's actually not going in, it's going straight off the back post to Randolph, where it hits Christie who is trying to react and clear. The second goal, Ward loses it really badly from our possession. Third goal is just caused by a gap in the midfield. Fourth is Ward making a hames of a clearance. Fifth was a stoppage time penalty.
That game evidently burned into your memory, spot on recall.

Kingdom
27/06/2025, 12:29 PM
It's come to pass anyway, Andrews in at Brentford.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cn4lj9gv7lno

pineapple stu
27/06/2025, 1:28 PM
Colour me very surprised, but I guess let's see how it goes.

Probably our two best players at the moment there (Kelleher and Collins) so could do without them getting dragged into a relegation battle in the coming season.

seanfhear
27/06/2025, 2:12 PM
Colour me very surprised, but I guess let's see how it goes.

Probably our two best players at the moment there (Kelleher and Collins) so could do without them getting dragged into a relegation battle in the coming season.Well, he can't get them promoted this season but the could win the league !

EalingGreen
27/06/2025, 2:14 PM
Colour me very surprised, but I guess let's see how it goes.Yep.

Btw, some interesting trivia on Irish managers from the BBC:

"Keith Andrews will become the first permanent Premier League manager from the Republic of Ireland since Chris Hughton left Brighton in 2019, and only the seventh in the competition's history.
Hughton, Mick McCarthy, Owen Coyle and David O'Leary, who were all born in the UK, are classified by Opta as being from the Republic of Ireland since they won caps for the country as players.
Excluding caretakers, and managers from Northern Ireland, Andrews will be just the third Irish-born boss to lead a Premier League club, alongside Joe Kinnear and Roy Keane.
Andrews and Keane have a bit of history, with the Manchester United legend making a disparaging remark about the Dubliner when he was named the Republic's assistant manager in 2020.
Keane spent a year and a half as a Premier League manager, winning 15 of 53 games with Sunderland, so Andrews could prove a bit of a point if he lasts longer with the Bees."

seanfhear
27/06/2025, 2:21 PM
Did Grok ( X's AI ) miss out on any ?



Brendan Rodgers - Managed Liverpool (2012–2015) and Leicester City (2019–2023).
Iain Dowie - Managed Crystal Palace (2003–2006). Born in England but qualified for Northern Ireland through his Belfast-born father, earning 59 caps.
Lawrie Sanchez - Managed Fulham (2007).
Kieran McKenna - Managed Ipswich Town (2024–present). Born in England but raised in Northern Ireland and played for Northern Ireland at youth international level.

tetsujin1979
27/06/2025, 3:26 PM
Martin O'Neill, the obvious one
Danny Wilson managed Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday
Nigel Worthington with Norwich City

Pat Rice had a spell as caretaker at Arsenal

Brendan Rodgers also managed Swansea in the Premier League

CraftyToePoke
27/06/2025, 3:34 PM
This is going to be interesting. Really hope it goes well ( while glancing at the first to be sacked odds in that division, I must admit )

EalingGreen
27/06/2025, 3:47 PM
This is going to be interesting. Really hope it goes well ( while glancing at the first to be sacked odds in that division, I must admit )Interesting statement from Phil Giles, who leads all the big appointment processes at Brentford:
https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/interviews-director-of-football-phil-giles-keith-andrews-appointment-process

For those unfamiliar with the name, Giles is one of the cleverst people in the English game, arguably the key figure in Brentford's rise after Matthew Benham (owner). He was originally recruited by Benham to work with him at Smart Odds (Benham's self-made online gambling and data company, and the source of his wealth and success.). And when he took over BFC, Benham immediately installed Giles in a senior position at the club, eventually becomoing the most senior.

I have no doubt that bigger clubs will have considered recruiting him, but would have been wasting their time (a ) because he firmly believes BFC haven't reached their ceiling yet, (b ) because of personal loyalty to Benham, and (c ) because Benham will have him on a MASSIVE wedge, possibly even incl shares in Smnart Odds etc(?).

In fact, being a proud Gerodie and Toon supporter, he may eventually be waiting for the right opportunity at Newcastle United, that's if the origins and nature of their present ownership don't deter him.

elatedscum
27/06/2025, 4:02 PM
This is going to be interesting. Really hope it goes well ( while glancing at the first to be sacked odds in that division, I must admit )

On this, Thomas Frank at 5/1 to leave Spurs before the season ends feels like decent odds. There's a chance it ends up similar to the way Nuno did. He's not Poch, Mourinho or Conte - the type of names who earn themselves time. So if the results don't come quickly, it could go sour fast.

Fair play to Keith. If you'd have told this forum 18 months ago when himself and Kenny left the FAI that he'd be managing in the Premier League now, don't think anyone would have believed it. I hope he's an absolute success, particularly after Martin O'Neill's comments, who has turned into a sad and bitter man in his old age. Shame because the build up a huge amount of credit in the bank for Euro 2016.

Eirambler
27/06/2025, 4:40 PM
I think the best hope here is that Brentford's backroom setup is so good that you could basically put any idiot in charge as the front man and it would still be a success. The proof of that would be Brentford having another decent season under Andrews, while Frank crashes and burns at Spurs. Let's see how it goes.

EalingGreen
27/06/2025, 4:45 PM
On this, Thomas Frank at 5/1 to leave Spurs before the season ends feels like decent odds. There's a chance it ends up similar to the way Nuno did. He's not Poch, Mourinho or Conte - the type of names who earn themselves time. So if the results don't come quickly, it could go sour fast.
It would take something catastrophic for TF to be sacked early.

For whatever Spurs fans felt about Ange, pro- or anti- they virtually ALL blame Levy for the club's underachievement during the 20-odd years he's been in charge. Meaning that he cannot just shift the blame by sacking yet another manager, no-one will buy it. (Even when Spurs were parading the Europa League trophy in Bilbao, there was a chant of "We want Levy out!"). So in the absence of said catastrophe (relegation?), imo it would take a couple of seasons of clear failure by TF before Levy felt secure enough to pull the trigger.

Then there's the financial aspect, always something to the forefront of Levy's mind. It cost him a reported £9-10m just to compensate BFC for Frank. And being in a very strong bargaining position, TF will undoubtedly have negotiated not just a big salary package, but also a big severance deal. (I believe he had a clause in his contract at BFC that he had to earn more than the highest paid player.)

Add to that the cost of attracting and paying the 3 or 4 backroom staff whom TF will have asked for, so that if a few expensive (Frank) signings also arrive at the Lane, then the cost of dismantling all that after 12 months would be colossal. (All of which is in addition to Ange's hefty payoff.)

P.S. Re Nuno of the Sorrows, he was never Spurs' first choice to replace Mourinho, or even third or fourth choice (more?):
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37618721/how-took-72-days-six-candidates-make-hire
Meaning he was in no position to make demands, since I daresay Levy could have found another, similar calibre appointee for the money. Oh, and never mind Wolves or Forest, Nuno was absolutely dreadful for Spurs, with Spurs fans surprised he lasted even 17 league games - shockingly bad.

EalingGreen
27/06/2025, 5:03 PM
I think the best hope here is that Brentford's backroom setup is so good that you could basically put any idiot in charge as the front man and it would still be a success. The proof of that would be Brentford having another decent season under Andrews, while Frank crashes and burns at Spurs. Let's see how it goes.Except that a number of important figures from the backroom set-up left with TF for Spurs, meaning that more appointments will need to be made.

But from reading between the lines of that Giles interview, I suspect BFC will take their time before finalising KA's new backroom staff i.e. the right appointments, not quick ones.

While BFC is a club which is normally pretty patient anyhow, so I'd guess that they'll be all the more so in the present circumstances..

P.S. Brentford don't do "decent", they demand continual improvement, even if that improvement isn't immediately apparent in results etc. While I doubt TF will crash and burn.

EalingGreen
27/06/2025, 5:30 PM
First interview with KA as Head Coach (8 mins, embedded):

https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/video/interviews-keith-andrews-brentford-head-coach

Quietly confident, without being big-headed I'd say?