Brentford advancing in talks to appoint Keith Andrews as new manager | OneFootball

Bees are optimistic of agreeing a deal with set-piece coach that would see them promote from within to replace Thomas Frank

Talks are continuing between Brentford and Keith Andrews, who is the leading candidate to become their new manager.

Standard Sport understands that Brentford’s set-piece coach Andrews is the front-runner to replace the Dane. He and the club’s hierarchy continue to discuss details and there is growing optimism that a deal can be agreed.

If he were to get the job, it would be the ex-Republic of Ireland international's first head coaching role.

It was reported by Standard Sport back in April that the 44-year-old was one of the final four candidates for the vacant managerial job at MK Dons, whom he previously played for and coached, but ex-Derby and Rotherham boss Paul Warne was hired instead to replace Scott Lindsey.

Though Andrews has been Brentford’s set-piece coach since last summer, it has been known that he has had ambitions to begin his managerial career for some time.

Appointing Andrews would be in line with Brentford’s precedent for hiring from within. Frank became manager in 2018 following two years as the Bees’ assistant head coach under Dean Smith.

Andrews has previously worked as an assistant at MK Dons and with both the Republic of Ireland’s senior and Under-21 teams, also spending seven months as a coach at Sheffield United under Chris Wilder before moving to Brentford in July 2024.

He had a 16-year playing career that began at Wolves and also took in stints with Hull, MK Dons, Blackburn, West Brom and Bolton, plus a number of loan spells with the likes of Brighton, Ipswich, Watford, Stoke, Oxford and Walsall.

Andrews also played 35 times for the Republic of Ireland between 2008-12, featuring at Euro 2012. He retired in 2015 to become first-team coach at MK Dons in their first Championship season under Karl Robinson.