Manager rejected by League Two club now in contention to replace Thomas Frank at Brentford

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EFL Analysis can confirm that a former Sheffield United assistant manager is in the mix to become Thomas Frank’s successor at Brentford.

After losing his job at Derby County in February following a disastrous run of form that left the Rams staring down the barrel of the Championship relegation battle, boss Paul Warne quickly returned to management.

Warne accepted the offer from MK Dons after much persuasion, seeing the Dons beat interest from League One sides to secure his signature.

MK Dons have been tipped as favourites for the League Two title in 2025/26 as Warne looks to recreate his third tier success in League Two, but Warne was not the only head coach involved in the discussions at Stadium MK last month.

EFL Analysis can confirm that another figure who was involved in the search by MK Dons before they landed on Warne, is now in contention for a top flight job.

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Keith Andrews in contention for Brentford job after Thomas Frank joins Spurs

EFL Analysis can confirm that Keith Andrews is in contention to take charge of Premier League Brentford, just months after he was rejected by League Two MK Dons.

Andrews is currently the set-piece coach at Brentford and has impressed under Thomas Frank, but he has since departed for Tottenham Hotspur, and Andrews has not yet followed.

We can confirm that Andrews is in contention to fill the top job at the GTech Community Stadium.

However, this comes after he failed to land the job at his former club MK Dons, where he has had two different spells, both as an assistant manager and as a player.

Former Rams boss Warne was the man MK Dons turned to ahead of Andrews to spearhead their 2025/26 League Two campaign.

Dublin-born Andrews enjoyed a lengthy playing career across the EFL and Premier League for a handful of top clubs, and has taken those qualities into his coaching endeavours after Andrews received lofty praise from Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder during his time at Bramall Lane.

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Chris Wilder praised Keith Andrews during time at Sheffield United

After his lengthy playing career concluded, Andrews’ coaching career began at MK Dons, where he played 92 of his 412 games at, when he was assistant manager to Karl Robinson for the 2015/16 season.

Following his Dons stint, Andrews moved into the coaching set-up of the Republic of Ireland national side, first with the Under-21s and then with the first-team national side.

Andrews spent over three years as Stephen Kenny’s Ireland assistant manager before he was snapped up by Sheffield United during the 2023/24 season to work under Wilder.

Upon his return to Bramall Lane, and Andrews’ arrival, Wilder said via the Irish Independent: “Keith Andrews is coming in, he’s somebody I have known for quite a while.

“He has been working with the Republic of Ireland national team, he’s an excellent coach and he will give us some fresh ideas as well. I thought that was important, that we freshen up that department as well.”

The Blades would finish bottom of the Premier League in Andrews’ only season at Bramall Lane, before departing in July 2024 after the opportunity at top flight Brentford arose, where he has been working since under Frank, his potential predecessor.

Set-piece guru Andrews’ influence at the Bees has been impressive, seeing Brentford become the fifth-highest goalscorers from set-pieces in the Premier League this season with 11.