Thomas Frank has said that returning to management does not feel like the right time for him just yet, and honestly, after what he went through at Tottenham, that is probably a very sensible call.
Frank came into Spurs with a decent reputation built on some solid work at Brentford, where he turned a modest club into a Premier League side that punched well above their weight for a good few years. He was never going to walk into Tottenham and have an easy ride, because nobody ever does at that club, but the whole thing unravelled pretty quickly and he ended up leaving without really getting the chance to put his stamp on things properly.
There is something quite refreshing about a manager who is willing to sit back and take stock rather than frantically chasing the next job just to stay relevant. Football moves at a ridiculous pace and managers often jump straight back in before they have had a chance to properly reflect on what went wrong or what they actually want from their next role. Frank taking his time suggests he has a bit of self-awareness, which is not always the most common quality in football management.
The truth is the right job has to come along as well. There are only so many clubs at a level that would suit his profile, and right now a lot of those seats are taken. Better to wait for something that fits than to end up at a club where the project is a mess and you are out the door in four months anyway. That cycle helps nobody.
Spurs will also be watching this with a little bit of awkwardness, no doubt. They are still trying to work out their own direction under their new manager, and every time Frank speaks it is a gentle reminder that their managerial decisions have not exactly been a smooth operation lately. Not a great look for anyone involved.
Frank seems calm, collected and in no panic. Sometimes that is exactly the right approach.
Let me know your thoughts.