Brentford FC have added Thomas Frank to their First Team coaching staff. The 43-year-old will act as an assistant to Head Coach Dean Smith and starts his new role today, Thursday 8 December. Thomas – who was most recently with Danish side Brøndby IF – will work alongside Richard O’Kelly as one of two Assistant Head Coaches.

Thomas was chosen by a panel that was led by Dean and also included Richard O’Kelly, Head of Football Operations Rob Rowan and the Club’s Directors of Football – Phil Giles and Rasmus Ankersen – and will work outside his native Denmark for the first time. After a spell in youth coaching, Thomas took up a role with the Danish FA in 2008, working with country’s Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 teams. In 2013 he took up the managerial reins at Brøndby and led them to finishes of fourth and third in his two full seasons at the helm before leaving in March.

Dean Smith said: “It has always been the plan to have an additional member of the First Team coaching staff. It was a role that Flemming Pedersen was performing before he took charge of the Under-21s and then the B Team. I am pleased that we have got Thomas in to work with us and he will work alongside Richard as one of two assistants.

“When we interviewed Thomas, we felt he would be great fit for the role. He will add to the skill set of the staff we have in place, his development with young players and his tactical knowledge of the game is excellent. We are very pleased to welcome him to the staff.

Phil Giles said "I am delighted that we've managed to attract another high calibre coach to Brentford. This appointment adds strength in depth to a coaching team that also includes Kevin O'Connor. While our season started well, recent results have clearly been disappointing. Rasmus and I have absolute confidence that under Dean's leadership, assisted by Richard, Thomas and the rest of the players and staff, we will start to climb the league table again in the near future."