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Brentford announces surprise new head coach
Keith Andrews will replace Thomas Frank as Brentford's new head coach, with the Irishman signing a three-year deal with the Bees.
Frank left Brentford for Tottenham Hotspur, and Spurs' sacked coach Ange Postecoglou had briefly been touted by some as a possible replacement in what would have been a straight swap.
But the lesser-known Andrews has been handed the reins and has agreed to a three-year deal, having joined the club last summer as a set-piece coach.
The 44-year-old has coaching experience at Sheffield United, MK Dons and Republic of Ireland, but this is his first job as a head coach.
"I’m very appreciative of the owner, the board and the staff that have supported this decision," Andrews said. "It’s an opportunity I feel I’m very capable of doing and ready to do.
"I don’t know where to start in terms of what’s exciting me because there’s so much: the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club.
"We want to play winning football, we want to be competitive, we want to have an edge, we want to play dynamic, relentless football but we want to be organised.
"We want to have huge moments, huge games, and I think the big one is that we want to have an attitude and a relentlessness of progression. We really need to maintain that, and that’s on a daily basis."
Brentford finished 10th in the Premier League last season on 56 points, and was in with a chance of European qualification until late in the campaign.
However, Andrews may have to manage some big changes to the squad next season.
Goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who led the league in saves last season (153), has been replaced by Caoimhin Kelleher after the Dutchman’s move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Captain Christian Norgaard is also reportedly close to joining Arsenal.
Only Mohamed Salah (47) and Alexander Isak (29) had more direct goal involvements in the Premier League last season than Bryan Mbeumo (27), but the forward is a target for Manchester United and Spurs.