Ange Postecoglou states Thomas Frank’s dismissal is ‘justified’ but raises concerns about Spurs’ future.

Ange Postecoglou has described Thomas Frank’s dismissal by Tottenham Hotspur as a “just departure,” while expressing empathy for the Dane, who had to navigate an “environment of uncertainty” at Spurs.

Frank parted ways with Spurs on Wednesday following a poor streak in the Premier League that has placed the club at risk of being involved in a relegation battle, as they are only five points clear of the relegation zone, having secured just two victories in their last 17 matches.

Postecoglou understands well the emotions Frank is experiencing after being released by Spurs last summer and subsequently leaving Nottingham Forest after a challenging 39-day winless period earlier this season.

“Having been in that situation now twice in the last sort of six months [being sacked], it’s tough,” Postecoglou shared on The Overlap podcast.

“And then, you know that he [Frank] can’t be the sole issue at the club, right? And that’s likely true for every manager, but ultimately that’s what we are evaluated on.

“It’s an intriguing club, Tottenham, you know. It made a significant shift at the end of last year, not just with me, but with Daniel [Levy] departing as well. And this has created a whole sort of atmosphere of uncertainty.”

“Because there’s no assurance regarding which manager you’re bringing in and which truly quality manager you’re bringing in to achieve success.”

While acknowledging that it was a justified dismissal based on results, Postecoglou pointed out that the circumstances Frank faced could not have been advantageous and also questioned Spurs’ rationale behind yet another change.

“What prompted such a significant shift? So Thomas is stepping in and what’s his, you know, what’s his goal? What’s the club’s goal?” he remarked.

“At the beginning of the year, they sort of stated, compete on all fronts. Well, the club hasn’t competed on all fronts for a long time. And you also, you know, the most influential figure at the club [Daniel Levy] for the past 20 years is also leaving.”

“Now, did Thomas know he was entering into that? I don’t know. And it’s a fair departure from me.”

When discussing why he perceives Spurs as a “curious” club, the former Celtic and Forest manager noted that there isn’t a distinct identity regarding what the team has been attempting to accomplish in recent years, while the effect of star striker Harry Kane’s departure cannot be overlooked.

Following Mauricio Pochettino’s exit from the club, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte were the next two permanent managers appointed (before Postecoglou and then Frank), with their playing styles being markedly different from what was previously successful under Pochettino in north London.

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“If you examine that list of names [managers], there isn’t really a consistent theme throughout the list of what they’re trying to achieve,” Postecoglou added.

“At the same time, I believe people have been overly dismissive of Harry’s [Kane] impact during that period. He’s an extraordinary player. If I had Harry the last two years, that first year we finished fifth. I’m convinced we would have secured a Champions League spot.

“So even his departure, you can’t fill that gap. It’s simply impossible. So when you consider those managers, as I mentioned, they’ve transitioned from, you know, Mauricio [Pochettino] who played in a certain manner and aligned with the club’s DNA.

“So that’s what I mean. It’s quite curious in terms of grasping what they are trying to construct? What are they?”

“All clubs are distinct, they’re all different, but when you enter Tottenham what you observe everywhere is ‘To dare is to do.’ It’s ubiquitous. And yet their actions are nearly the opposite of that.

“I think what they failed to realize is, to actually win, you must take some risks. That’s the essence of the club.”