Ex-Tottenham star backs Harry Redknapp to replace Frank | Football | Sport

Time is running out for Thomas Frank to rescue the situation at Tottenham, following yet another disappointing Premier League outcome. A late Cristian Romero goal secured a 2-2 draw at Turf Moor against Burnley, but it did little to appease the travelling faithful.

The away supporters made their feelings abundantly clear with a wave of boos and chants of “We want Frank out”, leaving no doubt about their stance on the manager’s position. As pressure mounts on the board and ownership regarding the appointment of the head coach, the window to salvage matters is rapidly closing.

With that in mind, former Tottenham player Jamie O’Hara has shared his view on the crisis, advocating for the bold move of bringing back Harry Redknapp, but only as a caretaker boss until the end of the season. Speaking on talkSPORT, he commented: “Look, Harry’s been out of the game for a while, but he still watches football.

“He’s got an affiliation to the football club, a love there. The fans loved him. I would take Harry Redknapp, I would. For an interim manager until the end of the season.

“Give him some backroom staff, people that can coach, take the sessions for him, he manages the team. He’s been my manager, Harry Redknapp. He’ll get his arm around you, he’ll give you some confidence and he’ll say, ‘Go and play and express yourselves.’

“And I think that’s what the players need. I don’t know if Thomas Frank has just got these players with the handbrake on. I think Harry Redknapp would take the handbrake off these players and say, ‘Go and enjoy your football.'”

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Appointing the 78-year-old would represent a gamble, even temporarily, considering he’s been away from the sport for almost a decade. Redknapp’s most recent managerial stint came in 2017, when he took charge of Birmingham City for several months to steer them clear of relegation danger in the Championship.

His departure that September marked his retirement from management after 34 years in the dugout, with his tenure at Tottenham standing out as one of the pinnacle moments of his career. Given the transformation the Premier League has undergone since then, and how competitive the division has become, such an appointment could be viewed as a considerable gamble.

Whilst such speculation circulates amongst Tottenham supporters and pundits, Frank has urged his squad to “keep going” amid their current difficulties. Speaking to the media following the stalemate with Burnley, he said: “First and foremost, I want to thank them [the fans] for travelling and supporting the team throughout the game, which they do.

“I’m sure they can recognise and acknowledge especially the first half, and the improvement we’ve done there, and could and should have put it out of sight. But also acknowledge the will-power and character of the team that keeps running, keep fighting, to the end.

“We just need to keep going. We do so many things right. But there’s no doubt, that when it’s not dropping so easy for us, the consistent performances we’ve done, which I think I said that many times, they actually are in an OK level.

“But apparently because of where we are now, we need to do more, to make sure we get the wins over the line. Especially in the Premier League. And one of the bits is to play every third or fourth day, to perform, that demands a lot of mentality.

“We have a few injuries, that doesn’t help, but that’s part of it. Never any complaints from me, that’s reality. But that’s where we need to be strong enough as a team to keep performing every third or fourth day.”

At present, the boss remains at the helm, though it remains uncertain whether this represents a temporary reprieve given Tottenham’s challenging fixture schedule ahead. Eintracht Frankfurt await in the Champions League during the week, which could provide some relief with a top-eight finish in the competition, although falling short would mean an additional two matches added to an already packed calendar.

Then there are fixtures against Manchester City, Manchester United, and Newcastle, all ahead of the crucial North London Derby versus Arsenal. These could prove to be the sort of matches where Frank excels, considering how he orchestrated victories over those sides during his tenure at Brentford.

Nevertheless, it could just as easily result in some difficult outcomes, deeper soul-searching, and doubts about Tottenham’s future trajectory.