Liverpool were an inspiration for Brentford in promotion of Keith Andrews from set-piece coach to manager
The Bees have
2
The former MK Dons, Sheffield United and Republic of Ireland coach was announced as Brentford manager on Friday
2
Andrews joined the Brentford coaching team at the start of the 24/25 season
Few Premier League clubs would even consider appointing from within nowadays, but Liverpool did so over 39 years.
Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish and Roy Evans all emerged from the inner sanctum to lead the Reds — and Brentford want to develop a similar reputation.
Ex-Ireland midfielder Andrews, 44, has no managerial experience but has been with the club for 12 months.
His first task is to deal with losing key players, with captain Christian Norgaard set to join Arsenal and top scorer
Read more on Irish football
While many predict Brentford's fabled model will collapse under the pressure of a tumultuous summer, those in charge appear relaxed.
Director of football Phil Giles led the process to replace Frank, having promoted him from within to replace Dean Smith in 2018.
He said: 'Liverpool used to do it for 30 years when they were the best team around and it worked for them.
'I'm not sure when it fell out of fashion. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for us.
Most read in Football
'Thomas has a phrase, 'If you take no risk, you also take a risk', which is completely right.
'It's more risky to go and get a coach we don't know from a club where the environment may be different.'
Saipan film trailer splits opinion as Irish football fans voice concern about Roy Keane portrayal
Giles all but confirmed Norgaard's £9.3million move to the Gunners but was more bullish on hitman Mbeumo's future — challenging Manchester United to meet their demands.
The chief has seen key figures come and go in more than a decade in the role.
Giles added: 'A lot of people say it's more worrying when there's not interest in your players. It's good that there's interest.
'We're getting a bit ahead of ourselves. We've only got a new head coach and a new keeper as it stands.
"It's not like falling apart . . . There's interest. Until that happens, it's actually pretty stable.'
Andrews is just as relaxed as the top brass over departures.
But he said: 'Ultimately, I want the best possible players in the building.
'We've got phenomenal players in the building that we will continue to improve and develop.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
an hour ago
- The 42
Chris Busby expresses frustration with IRFU as he retires from refereeing
IRISH RUGBY REFEREE Chris Busby has expressed his frustration with the IRFU after retiring from professional rugby, claiming he didn't receive enough 'genuine support' from the union's leadership during the most difficult period of his career. Busby confirmed in late January his intention to step away from the game at the end of the 2024/25 season. Over a month earlier, on 21 December, the Antrim native had refereed Leinster's 20-12 victory over Connacht at the Aviva Stadium, after which Connacht star Mack Hansen issued a scathing assessment of the officiating, describing some of the calls that went against his side as 'bullshit'. On 9 January, Ireland star Hansen received a three-match suspension for his remarks and was ordered to apologise to Busby, stating publicly that 'my emotions got the better of me' and expressing his regret over 'any distress' that his outburst had caused to Busby and his team of match officials. The URC also ordered Hansen to undertake a course that would help him to better understand the difficulties of being a match official. Advertisement Later on the same day as Hansen was sanctioned, The 42′s Murray Kinsella broke the story that Busby was set to retire from refereeing. It's understood that the Hansen incident and its subsequent fallout was the tipping point rather than the sole cause of the Ulster man's decision, which was multi-factored. Busby confirmed that report on 30 January but made himself available for selection by the URC until the end of the most recent campaign. In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday evening, the retiring Busby criticised the IRFU for what he described as a lack of support from his employers during 'the most difficult period of my professional life'. He did not specify the period in question. Included in the post was a framed photograph placed in a wheelie-bin. Busby said the photograph had been given to him by the IRFU as a keepsake to acknowledge his career. A statement issued by Busby on LinkedIn on Tuesday. 'Today marks the end of my time with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU),' Busby wrote, tagging the union in the post. 'I was given a framed photo as a memento to mark the occasion. 'A gesture, I suppose. But what I really needed — and never received from IRFU leadership — was genuine support during the most difficult period of my professional life. 'I'll be sharing more about that in the months ahead. For now, I'm grateful for the people I've met through the game — and looking forward to what's next.'
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Liverpool's Alexander Isak dream is still alive – but here's why Hugo Ekitike would be the better transfer
HUGO Ekitike is the poor man's Alexander Isak. But Eintracht Frankfurt's Ekitike is not only available for at least £50m less than Newcastle star Isak - he may also end up being an even better player. 8 Liverpool and Arsenal are still dreaming of a move for Alexander Isak Credit: PA 8 Eintracht Frankfurt's Hugo Ekitike could be a terrific backup plan Credit: Getty That's why both Liverpool and And if Newcastle stand firm on their stance that Isak is not for sale at any price, not even a British-record-obliterating £150m or more, then splashing out 'just' £86m on Ekitike would make perfect sense. After all, Newcastle almost signed him before they bought Isak. Make no mistake - Isak remains THE dream summer signing for both the Reds and the Gunners. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL First and foremost, because the On the one hand, Isak's goals and all-round contribution were a big factor in Newcastle qualifying for the lucrative Champions League. So, in theory, they have no need to sell and can quote fees that no suitor is willing to pay. Yet Isak's success also feeds his own personal ambition. What if, at the age of 25, this is his best chance to sign for a club that can compete for the biggest prizes in club football? Most read in Football 8 Alexander Isak was the Premier League's second-top goalscorer last season 8 Hugo Ekitike was sixth top scorer in the Bundesliga CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Newcastle are willing to give Isak, whose current contract still has three years to run, a decent pay rise from his current £120,000 per week if he will sign a new deal. Arsenal and especially Liverpool could give him much more, though. Fans convinced they know what Virgil van Dijk said to Newcastle hero Alexander Isak after Carabao Cup final And if Isak refuses to commit himself or cuts up rough about an alleged promise from Newcastle that they would sell him for a certain fee this summer, cashing in on him would become more attractive. So Arsenal and Liverpool will not give up on Isak just yet, not with nearly two months of the transfer window to go. But they would be negligent if they WEREN'T considering Ekitike as a strong alternative and arguably the better buy. Because in his height and physique, his ability to dribble and link play, and his all-round capacity to link play and create openings for others, as well as to score goals, he has plenty in common with Isak. Newcastle almost signed Ekitike months before they spent an initial £60m on Isak in 2022. Ekitike, then at Reims, turned down a deadline day move to St James' Park in the winter window. Newcastle were interested again in the summer, but the forward chose to join PSG on an initial loan in July, with Isak arriving in the north east of 8 Isak has established himself as one of the Premier League's top players Credit: Getty 8 Ekitike was previously on the books at PSG Credit: AFP Eintracht have a vested interest in talking up the comparison between Isak and Ekitike, of course. And Ekitike's stats are generally not as impressive as Isak's. Yet there are admirers who believe that Ekitike has a higher ceiling and could end up becoming one of the best strikers in the world. Ekitike is tall, at almost 6ft 3in, yet has excellent feet and speed, like the Swede. His debut season in Germany, after his loan move from Paris Saint-Germain was made permanent, was impressive - 15 goals and eight assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances. Which compares favourably to Arsenal target Ekitike and But it wasn't a case of Marmoush making his sidekick look good. Ekitike scored nearly half his league goals (seven) and more than half his assists (five) AFTER main man Marmoush played his last game for the club. He also caught the eye in the Europa League, even before his excellent long-range goal against Tottenham in the quarter-final first leg. Although Isak's goalscoring record is superior to Ekitike's, the Frenchman creates more for others and could be considered a more complete player. 8 It is no secret Eintracht are a selling club. They sold In January this year, Eintracht accepted a deal worth up to £64m for Marmoush. Every player at the big club in Frankfurt, Germany's banking capital, has his price. But Eintracht have not yet spent all the Marmoush money. So they are more than happy to hold out for the 100m Euros (£86m) they believe Ekitike is worth in the current market. There are reasons for Liverpool, Arsenal and others to think hard, of course. Ekitike has had just one good season in a big five European league - a bit like Premier League flops While his 15 goals - level with Marmoush, who played just over half the season, and 11 behind leader Harry Kane - are another slight cause for concern. Isak, with 23 PL strikes, was second only to Mohamed Salah. Even Ekitike's cheerleaders at The Transfer Flow podcast and bulletin point out that, for a big lad, Ekitike is not great at heading. Nor is Isak, but Sesko definitely is. They also note that Ekitike gets knocked off the ball easily and his off-the-ball work against teams with better defences is not elite. Yet they still identified him as the striker who should be Liverpool's top target - even at £85m. If Arsenal decide to go for an out-and-out goalscorer, maybe Viktor Gyokeres would be a better option. But if the Gunners and the Reds want an all-round centre forward like Isak - and they do - then Ekititke would be a great back-up candidate. And at a much lower price, could even turn out to be the better long-term option. 8
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Arsenal FINALLY win title – for spending most money on injured players' wages – how much did your club spend
ARSENAL have finally won a title — for spending the most money in wages to crocked players. Advertisement 3 Bukayo Saka is one of the Arsenal players who was out injured for a period in 2024-25 Credit: Getty 3 Footy Accumulators compiled the top ten by looking at players' salaries and totting up all their injuries and their duration Those on the injury list at various points in 2024-25 included Betting website Footy Accumulators compiled a top ten by looking at players' salaries and totting up all their injuries and their duration. They used Transfermarkt to assess injuries, and Capology to figure out the wages. Advertisement read more on arsenal Last season's Europa League winners Premier League champions Arsenal fan Craig Burke, 43, said: 'We've won nothing since 2020, and to make it even worse, Spurs won a trophy — that really sticks in the craw. 'To cap it all, we've paid £35million to players for sitting about doing nothing so I'm hoping they'll be fresh as daisies for the new season.' Advertisement Most read in Football Footy Accumulators' spokesman said: 'Our research has revealed the staggering sums Premier League clubs have paid to players who have been sidelined in the past year.' 3 Martin Odegaard was also on the Gunners' injury list during 2024/25 Credit: Getty Arsenal Plot Big Double Transfer For Eberechi Eze and Hugo Ekitike! | Transfers Exposed
