Crisis Deepens at Tottenham: Relegation Threat Looms Even After Thomas Frank Departure

‎Tottenham Hotspur find themselves in 16th position in the Premier League, maintaining only a five-point cushion above the relegation places. They have not won any of their last nine domestic matches in 2026. Their next challenge comes against North London rivals Arsenal, who are expected to win the league and have dominated recent meetings, with Spurs winning only once in the last ten encounters. Despite the severity of these circumstances, there was little sense of crisis at the club until midweek.

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‎Tottenham’s struggles continue despite Thomas Frank’s sacking, with poor performances, fan unrest, leadership criticism and squad weaknesses pushing the club toward a potential relegation fight.

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‎For the second straight season, Tottenham are staring at the possibility of finishing well below expectations. They avoided relegation in 2024-25 mainly because the bottom three teams lacked competitiveness, but the league’s quality has since increased.

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‎The downturn is remarkable considering Spurs were Champions League finalists seven years ago and Europa League winners just months ago. However, the club has moved from stability into chaos across sporting and structural areas.

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‎Major changes are required, though the club has already acted by removing Thomas Frank as manager.

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‎Looking purely at results, Frank delivered the weakest numbers among big-six managers since 2010 when managing more than 10 matches. His 1.12 points per game record — 29 points from 26 games — projected across a full season equates to roughly 42 points. This sits below Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United record, Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool tenure, and Graham Potter’s Chelsea spell. Even Nuno Espirito Santo outperformed him during his brief Tottenham stint.

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‎Club leadership had strongly supported Frank upon hiring him. CEO Vinai Venkatesham highlighted a comprehensive recruitment process evaluating over 30 candidates across 10 performance traits, ultimately ranking Frank highest. His strength in developing young talent was particularly praised.

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‎Although his appointment from Brentford was initially viewed as reasonable, hindsight shows it has backfired badly. Tottenham appeared slow to react as performances declined, especially before their loss to Newcastle.

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‎Frank previously built a strong reputation at Brentford, combining emotional discipline with strong data-based planning. His philosophy centred on quickly moving beyond results. Interest from top clubs suggested he could succeed at higher levels, but his transition to Tottenham began poorly, including a press conference slip-up where he referenced Arsenal.

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‎That moment set the tone for a season filled with PR errors. These included dismissive remarks about Eberechi Eze, failed transfer explanations, and controversial tactical claims. Fan relations deteriorated rapidly.

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‎After defeats to Arsenal and Chelsea, fan opposition grew, with Frank receiving boos while players were applauded. His criticism of supporters who targeted goalkeeper Vicario further damaged his standing. Chants predicting his dismissal became frequent, especially after losses to West Ham and Newcastle.

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‎From a tactical perspective, Frank’s approach raised concerns. While Brentford once played progressive attacking football, they became more defensive after reaching the Premier League. Tottenham failed to develop attacking consistency under his leadership.

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‎Injuries to Kulusevski and Maddison removed two key creative players for most of the season. However, deeper problems remained. Tottenham struggled to control matches and lacked midfield balance. Their attacking shape often appeared disorganised.

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‎Cristian Romero added controversy by publicly criticising the club’s transfer activity and leadership. Frank consistently supported him publicly, but Romero’s red card against Manchester United created further problems by ruling him out for several matches.

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‎Romero’s status divides opinion. Many fans appreciate his honesty toward the board, but his defensive performances have been inconsistent despite scoring six goals this season. Some believe Tottenham should consider selling him if strong offers arrive.

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‎Leadership decisions have also faced criticism. Venkatesham’s past role at Arsenal made him unpopular among many supporters. Meanwhile, Daniel Levy had long been a lightning rod for criticism before leaving in 2025.

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‎Sporting director Johan Lange has faced backlash over recruitment priorities, with critics arguing he focused too heavily on youth development while neglecting immediate first-team needs. His refusal to make emergency January signings during an injury crisis has drawn particular criticism.

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‎Frank insisted responsibility for Tottenham’s struggles was shared among coaching staff, executives and recruitment teams, stressing the collaborative nature of decision-making.

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‎The club’s claim that this is a “transition year” has been questioned heavily due to poor results. Critics argue it cannot justify consistent defeats.

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‎Relegation is now a realistic danger. Tottenham currently sit on 29 points. Nottingham Forest could draw level with a win over Wolves, while West Ham remain five points behind Spurs. Champions League commitments could increase fixture pressure further.

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‎Mauricio Pochettino has re-entered discussions after speaking warmly about Tottenham and suggesting the club should aim to compete for the biggest trophies. Reports suggest he may consider returning after completing his role with the United States national team.

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‎Many fans would welcome his return, believing it could restore unity. However, uncertainty remains about whether he would take the job if Tottenham were relegated.

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‎Frank’s removal alone cannot fix Tottenham’s problems. He may not even have been the biggest issue. But he was the easiest change to make. Tottenham are now fighting for top-flight survival, and that threat is very real.