Tottenham manager Thomas Frank is under increasing pressure to keep his job.
Discussions are believed to have taken place at board level over whether Frank should continue following Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to West Ham.
The Spurs hierarchy are believed to be considering all options at this point – but no final decision has yet been made.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Thomas Frank admits he is in ‘a lot of pain’ after Spurs’ 2-1 defeat at home to West Ham
The Spurs board want to stick to a long-term plan involving Franco, which has always been the plan, but Saturday’s defeat reached new levels of toxicity at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There have been reports of fans clashing with each other outside the pitch, while a video has emerged on social media of a fan approaching co-owner Vivienne Lewis in the hospitality section and expressing his feelings about Franco’s future.
Unlike the vast majority of managers who have lost their jobs this season, Frank has tried to remain positive, appreciating that this is a difficult time for the club.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from West Ham’s Premier League win against Tottenham
He described it as an attempt to turn around the “super-tanker” and that it was headed in the right direction. But that did not show in Saturday’s result at relegation-threatened rivals West Ham, which ended a 10-game winless run in the league.
Not all the blame can be placed on Frank. The club is in transition after the post-Daniel Levy era with new captains steering the ship and new staff still finding their feet in a number of areas.
Either way, this feels like an important moment for Tottenham and they will be carefully considering their next steps ahead of their Champions League home game against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.
How Ski Sports reported on Tottenham fans’ response to Franco
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Tim Sherwood questions whether Frank could be sacked by Tottenham after defeat at West Ham
Sky Sports’ Oliver Yu at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
After West Ham scored late on: “Home fans chant ‘fired in the morning’ to Thomas Frank, those who stayed in their seats. There is a mass exodus at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as West Ham fans celebrate.”
Full time: “The boos die down before they start again. The fans lining up by the press box also show their feelings.
“Frank then walks to the tunnel, applauding as he goes. He’s booed again and there’s another chorus of ‘fired in the morning’. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like it before.”
Tottenham’s games in January and February
Tuesday: Borussia Dortmund (h), Champions League – kick-off at 8 p.m
Saturday: Burnley (a), Premier League – kick-off at 3 p.m
January 28: Eintracht Frankfurt (a), Champions League – kick-off at 8 p.m
February 1: Man City (h), Premier League – kick-off 16.30, live Ski Sports
February 7: Manchester United (a), Premier League – kick-off at 12:30 p.m
February 10: Newcastle (h), Premier League – kick-off at 19.30
February 22: Arsenal (h), Premier League – kick-off 16.30, live Ski Sports