Brentford advancing in talks to appoint Keith Andrews as new manager
Talks are continuing between Brentford and Keith Andrews, who is the leading candidate to become their new manager.
The Bees are searching for a new head coach after Thomas Frank — who had been in post since 2018 — left last week to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.
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.
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.
Meet Ipswich Town’s hometown striker with an ex-England international in the family
Given Ipswich’s population of around 140,000, a remarkable number of players have made a mark at their hometown club over the years.
There’s been Jason Dozzell, Richard Wright, Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble, Luke Hyam and Andre Dozzell. We’ve currently got Luke Woolfenden, Harry Clarke and Cameron Humphreys.
Is it time now for a striker to join that list? We had a brief taste of it with Macauley Bonne in 2021, but he was on loan. An academy produced forward, Ipswich born and bred, banging in the goals would be the dream. Jamie Maugè, having just signed a two-year pro deal, is hoping he can be that man.
Jamie Maugè recently put pen to paper on a two-year pro deal at Ipswich Town. (Image: ITFC)
A former pupil at St Matthew’s Primary School and St Alban’s High School, his journey to this point has not been the traditional one.
“I started off around seven. I used to watch my older brother play football for Claydon and one day I said, ‘Dad, can I get involved and play?’” he explains.
“After a couple of years I went to Coplestonians, then I went to Wickham Market at Under-10s. I was on the Ipswich Town Community Trust programme for a bit, at Under-13s I went into Sudbury, then for Under-14s it was Needham Market. I also played for Stowmarket on a Sunday.”
It was only at Under-15s level that Ipswich offered Maugè a trial after he impressed playing for Suffolk against a Blues academy side.
“I’m playing with a few lads who have been here since they were six, so I did join quite late,” he admits.
“I actually got asked to go on trial for Ipswich when I was nine, but dad said I wasn’t ready and I’ve always trusted that he’d know when the time was right.
“I just kept playing my game, stayed confident, stayed positive, kept working hard and knew that the time would come eventually. That’s what happened.”
Ronnie Maugè was the became the first Plymouth Argyle player to score at Wembley when they defeated Darlington 1–0 in the Third Division Play-Off Final in 1996. (Image: PA)
Dad is Ronnie Maugè. You may recognise the name. From the late 80s to early 00s, the tigerish midfielder had a solid Football League career with the likes of Fulham, Bury, Plymouth and Bristol Rovers, also earning eight caps for Trinidad and Tobago before moving to Ipswich to combine work with managing Whitton United.
“Steve McGavin (Ipswich’s former head of academy recruitment) kept calling me about Jamie, but I wanted to put the reins on it,” explains Ronnie.
“I just felt that sometimes boys go into academies a little bit young. I wanted him to enjoy playing with his mates, just enjoy the game, learn it that way, you know what I mean?
“Sometimes it’s best to be a big fish in a small pond than a little fish in a big pond. I kept telling him that he’d be ready when he was ready and that quality always rises to the top.”
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