Latest news with #ChrisHaslam
The Independent
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Brentford lose out on highly-rated coach as first-choice Thomas Frank replacement
Brentford's first-choice replacement for Thomas Frank, who has been appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager, has also departed with the Dane. First-team assistant coach Justin Cochrane was the Bees' preferred candidate to replace Frank, but has opted to move with him to Spurs. Frank was appointed Spurs manager on Thursday and will also be joined by head of first-team performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton. Cochrane arrived at Brentford in 2022 to become their head of coaching, and in March joined Thomas Tuchel's backroom staff at England. Had he chosen to stay at Brentford, it would be his first lead role at a senior side. The former England youth international was previously head of player development at Manchester United and has held numerous coaching roles within youth development at England. Frank has replaced Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham after the club moved to dismiss the Australian after he won the Europa League but finished 17th in the Premier League. Frank, 51, was at Brentford for seven years, taking the club from the Championship and establishing themselves as a Premier League side. Brentford had considered a move for Kieran McKenna after Ipswich's relegation from the Premier League but they believe the 39-year-old has bigger aspirations within the Premier League.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'We will never forget Thomas... but this provides an opportunity'
Brentford director of football Phil Giles has said "we will never forget" Thomas Frank as the Dane's move to Tottenham was confirmed on spent seven years in charge of the Bees, guiding the club from the Championship to the Premier League in 2021."From the moment he replaced Dean Smith, he understood what we were trying to build and his wisdom, coaching ability and emotional intelligence have helped transform the club," said Giles."There have been so many special moments with Thomas and nobody will ever forget the day at Wembley for the play-off final or that emotional first Premier League game against Arsenal."He forged a special connection with our fans, helped develop and improve players, and was instrumental in implementing the culture that has seen Brentford go from strength to strength."However, just as when a player leaves, it provides an opportunity for someone else to come in and make their own impact."We will never forget Thomas, but now it is time to thank him and take the next steps in our journey with a new leader who we believe can be just as successful and influential."Assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton are also joining Frank at Spurs.
Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Times
Justin Cochrane: Brentford No2 will follow Thomas Frank to Spurs
Thomas Frank will be joined by Justin Cochrane at Tottenham Hotspur despite Brentford's attempts to keep him as their potential next head coach. Cochrane, 43, has been Brentford's assistant first-team coach for the past three years and in February he also took a role with England as part of Thomas Tuchel's coaching staff. The former defender started his career at Queens Park Rangers followed by spells at clubs including Hayes, Hayes & Yeading, Crewe Alexandra, Gillingham, Yeovil Town and Millwall. Since his playing career ended in December 2010, he has coached at Tottenham and Manchester United. In 2021 he became United's head of academy coaching and player development. He also coached England Under-16 and Under-17 before becoming Brentford's head of coaching in 2022. Brentford had wanted to keep hold of Cochrane, despite Frank's expected departure to take charge of Spurs, as an option to succeed the Dane as head coach, but his decision to move to north London is effectively the final piece of the puzzle in the deal to bring Frank to Tottenham. Frank will be joined from Brentford by Chris Haslam, who has been head of athletic performance at the west London club, and Joe Newton, an analyst. Claus Norgaard, who previously worked with Denmark's youth teams, is expected to be Frank's assistant. Tom Perryman, the Brentford fitness coach, could also follow. Only Matt Wells, an assistant coach, and Rob Burch, a goalkeeping coach, are expected to remain at Tottenham from Ange Postecoglou's coaching staff following his dismissal last week. Mile Jedinak, Nick Montgomery and Sérgio Raimundo,who were part of Postecoglou's backroom staff, all left Tottenham.
WIRED
23-05-2025
- WIRED
Shop Like a Supervillian
By Chris Haslam and Jeremy White Villainous characters often have devilishly good taste. Put these tools to better use in your own lair. Photographs: Shutterstock; products courtesy of the brands All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Face it: Being bad feels pretty good sometimes. Who amongst us hasn't wanted to enjoy the spoils of a ne'er-do-well's criminal enterprises? Should you desire those things and be able to acquire them without doing all the crimes, WIRED has prepared a little shopping list for you. If you've ever craved a kitchen worthy of Hannibal Lecter, a stereo perfect for Hans Gruber, boots befitting Darth Vader, a chair perfect for Doctor Doom, or a toy box The Joker would be envious of, you've come to the right place. Dry Ager While Buffalo Bill liked to 'store' his victims for later in the bottom of a well, Hannibal generally preferred to dig in right then and there (just ask Paul Krendler). But when he demands the most tender possible cuts for his guests, we expect only dry aging will do. This high-class meat store combines ancient dry-aging methods with state-of-the-art humidity-controlled technology to take the effort, risk, and odor from hanging meats, all from a plug-and-go appliance. The result is a blackened steak with thick crust—but cut away the exterior and you'll be rewarded with the most tender, buttery piece of meat imaginable. Price on request. Dragon Riot Whether you're looking to spatchcock a chicken, debone a carcass, or neatly remove your own polydactyly finger, these poultry shears will effortlessly cut through gristle and bone. With non-slip micro-serrated German stainless steel blades they're easy to wield, the non-slip ergonomic grip and lockable blades prevent unwanted accidents, and while they're dishwasher safe, keep in mind that blood stains are easier to remove with cold water. Bialetti WIRED is fully aware that Mads Mikkelsen's Lecter used a gloriously expensive $22,000 Royal Coffee Maker. Sadly, it doesn't come in red, so here's a beautifully simple, hugely effective stovetop espresso maker from alternative coffee royalty Bialetti. It works just like the classic Moka Express, but the collector is replaced by a plate with room enough for two espresso cups. Although in Lecter's kitchen, you're doing well if you make it past dessert… Riedel If you've gone to the trouble of cooking liver and fava beans, that nice chianti had better be aired to perfection. Launched in 2006 to celebrate the 250th anniversary of both Riedel and Mozart, this hand-blown decanter is shaped like a lyre—a lute-style stringed instrument—and pours deliciously. Handmade using the finest clear crystal glass, it holds a single bottle of wine within a curved shape that helps to naturally capture any sediment without the need to add filtration. Wüsthof Dr. Lecter enjoyed the versatility of his unserrated Spyderco Harpy knife, but when the guests arrive he's going to want something a little less murderous on the kitchen counter. Now available in a red wine-inspired shade of Tasty Sumac, this classic knife set and oiled ash block from Wüsthof features riveted handles, full-forged stainless steel blades with a Rockwell Hardness Scale rating of 58, and classic precision-cut focused blade grind-angle of 29 degrees. Sirman When you 'prefer to eat the rude' nothing prepares them for the plate as elegantly as this 132-pound example of flesh-slicing perfection. Sirman's polished and painted aluminium manual flywheel slicer has a 12-inch blade and patented motion system that has no visible mechanical parts, while its double-articulating arm holds your victim cured meat securely in place. It's easy to clean, disassembles without the need for tools and, despite the retro aesthetic, is an all-modern design for demanding, precision butchery. Pro-Ject $999 Turntable Lab (Pre-order) Few people realise that the $640 million in negotiable bearer bonds Hans so desperately wanted was needed to fund his vinyl addiction. It's a financial pain analog enthusiasts know only too well, but turntable stalwarts Pro-Ject have at least found a way to keep, and restore, a priceless collection. This dedicated vinyl-flattening machine features two 12-inch sized hot plates that heat and press any precious-but-warped long players back into shape. It maintains a temperature of 136.4°F (58°C) and gently irons out those unwanted wobbles. écoute In 1988, George Michael's album Faith ruled the US charts, but something tells us Hans Gruber wasn't about to be whistling 'I want your sex' in a Nakatomi Plaza elevator. It's classical all the way—'Ode to Joy' in this case—and to make the most of Beethoven's final symphony, he'll be wanting a pair of headphones with a rich, traditional playback. These stylish ANC-enabled hybrid Bluetooth cans feature the latest voice control and digital wizardry, but sonic duties are handled deftly through a built-in vacuum tube preamp that offers traditional analog warmth and rich midrange. Vicoustic With Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. on heavy rotation—that and a proclivity for semi-automatic weapons—Gruber's tastefully decorated apartment would benefit from a little audio control. This bi-dimensional diffusion panel provides audio multi-reflection on both vertical and horizontal planes, and works especially well on mid and high frequencies, helping to enhance musical definition. Each panel measures 23.4 x 23.4 x 5.8 inches and can be installed easily by any blond henchman. T+A $10,780 House of Stereo (Turntable) $18,880 House of Stereo (Receiver) Hailing from precision German audio engineers T+A, we consider this slick setup the perfect cold-steel color-match for Hans' (and Arafat's) John Phillips suit. The belt-driven turntable has an MC-2 moving coil cartridge and a crystal-controlled synchronous motor for exceptional stability, while the decidedly retro-modern all-in-one features a precision CD drive, FM/DAB/internet radio, a 25-watts-per-channel AB amplifier, and comprehensive G3 streamer with native DSD playback and a quadruple PCM DAC with eight 32-bit Burr-Brown chips, ensuring exceptional sound quality. Cassina $7,030 Design Within Reach As an iconic Euro Villain, Hans Gruber's choice of chair would be of equally high standing, and as utterly uncompromising as the man himself. Designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, and Charlotte Perriand in 1928, the LC2 Armchair combines generously proportioned cushions and a tubular chrome frame to create an instantly recognizable piece of furniture. Shown here in classic black Scozia leather, the chair is said to embody the principles of rationalism, which rather aptly deal with order, structure, proportionality, and symmetry, while rejecting unnecessary detail or overly emotional design. That's so Hans! Transparent Weighing a hefty 26.5 pounds and standing at more than 23 inches tall, this Brutalist architecture-inspired speaker is made from 70 percent post-consumer recycled aluminum. Inside, there's a 6.5-inch side-mounted woofer and dual 3-inch tweeters, placed rather strikingly at elevated 90-degree angles. It's a bold audio offering, but with up to 24-bit/192-kHz hi-res, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, and Spotify support it would have made the perfect farewell gift for Hans, when he was kindly asked to leave Volksfrei, his old West German terrorist group. Alpacka Bouncing down rapids in a 5.5-pound inflatable packraft might not compare to a 'dance with the devil in the pale moonlight,' but if he needs a distraction from taunting Batman, maybe the Joker could take a paddle. We're not sure if Gotham River has any white water, but at least he'll be prepared with this nylon-hulled craft designed for beginner and intermediate paddlers and rated for up to Class III waters. And, even if he does fall out, the self-bailer automatically drains any water that gets in, so he won't need to come ashore. Price varies. The Joker loves his razor-sharp playing cards, acid flowers, and cyanide pies—but he secretly craves just a few of Batman's toys. Now he can join in the wall-scaling fun with the Grapnel Launcher, which can shoot a rope and grappling hook up to 115 feet, or 53 feet with a rope ladder. This device for first responders isn't sold to the public, so he'll have to pull some strings. Price on request. When you really need to get a message out of Arkham Asylum and you can't find a convict willing to have a phone stitched inside them, try a drone like the virtually uncrashable DJI Mavic 3. The Joker can dress up his stock quadcopter with a set of laser-cut, color-matched, UV-resistant, and goo-free stickers from iStyles. Muc-Off When the Joker isn't filling balloons with Smylex, he should use this palm-size, battery-powered pump that can bring any inflatable up to 100 psi in seconds. If the Joker wants to enter another surfing contest, he should wear Sharkbanz. The battery-free wearable uses magnets to confuse a shark's sensitivity to electric fields, making them swim away. Rolls-Royce Let's just call this 'Vapour Violet' beauty what it is: the Jokermobile. Rolls-Royce raided its toy box for this highly exclusive version of its Spectre EV, adding light-up grilles and number plates, a dark-finish interior, and—Joker's favorite—a boost button on the steering wheel. Price on request. Cult What sport would a fiercely intelligent maniacal lunatic lean toward? With its mix of adrenaline, speed, and high probability of bruising your nether regions, BMX would seem a natural fit. This top-tier ride from Cult Devotion has been designed for street, freestyle, and park riding, and it features a classic cassette hub for direct power transfer. It also has a classic fast-stopping 990 U-Brake—not that Joker would ever use it. Waiting For Ideas When Victor von Doom regales his cloned grandkids with tales of narrow defeat at the hands of the Fantastic Four, he'll have swapped his throne for the gentle rocking of this precision-engineered, all-aluminum design. Created by Jean-Baptiste Anotin for his Paris-based studio Waiting For Ideas, the sharp lines and tight curves were inspired by the speed and aerodynamics of Formula 1, which sits beautifully at odds with a product designed to move so gently. It's the perfect combination of sculptural, practical, and threatening. Rolex This year's watch releases held good news for Victor Von Doom, as Rolex decided to go green with its GMT Master-II, and any worthwhile designs on ruling humanity with an iron fist naturally requires perfect timing on the wrist. The upgraded case material, now in white gold, befits Doom's status, of course, but the real Doom boon is the new green dial made of Cerachrom, Rolex's own patented ceramic alloy, that perfectly matches the bezel made from the same material. The bi-tone bezel, incidentally, is the key to keeping track of dastardly deeds in two different time zones simultaneously. Meanwhile, a 70-hour power reserve should help keep even the best-laid plans from falling foul—and no, your eyes do not deceive you, this is a lefty (though righties are welcome). Stone Espresso Nobody can be expected to tackle the complexities of the Multiverse without a decent coffee, and while the idea of Doom sitting down for breakfast feels farcical, deftly extracting the perfect two ounces of espresso feels on-brand, and this small-but-mighty coffee machine fits the bill brilliantly. It has zero plastic parts and is just 14 inches tall, but still weighs a solid 45 pounds. Temperature is accurately controlled with a 6.6-pound solid brass group head and PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) heating system which, unlike traditional thermostats, constantly monitors and adjusts the heat, maintaining the ideal temperature with greater precision and stability. Ferm Living Made from plate aluminum, rather than the nuclear-powered titanium used in Doom's battle armor, this carry-all trolley from Danish homeware deities Ferm Living blends the industrially sculptural with a blast of Brutalism. Useful as a bar cart (although Lager translates as 'warehouse,' rather than anything beer-related), side table, or arcane gauntlet storage device, it's 27 pounds of uncompromising design. iFi Audio One imagines that full titanium headgear ( curse you, Richards!!! ) plays havoc with a Bluetooth connection, so traditional wired headphones are the order of the day for Doom. And to make the most of his high-resolution playlists, he's going to need a dedicated amplifier. The iFi Audio iCAN Phantom is built to cope with the sonic demands of the most sensitive and difficult-to-run headphones. As such it can deliver 15,000mW at 16Ω and 640V for electrostatic models and, in a novel twist, the listener can switch between solid-state and tube modes to find the perfect tone. Porsche From e-bikes and dental chairs, to door handles and basins, Porsche's design division has a habit of elevating the everyday, and nowhere is this more evident than with this elegant gaming monitor. Borrowing design elements from the Porsche 911 S 2.4 Targa, the 49-inch, 5K resolution QHD-OLED display has a seriously quick 240Hz refresh rate, 1,000-nit brightness, and 1,800R curvature for full immersion. And, when Victor puts down the controller, the USB-C connectivity and hub means it can transition seamlessly back to the daily grind of world domination. Iquinix Machined from aluminum, this hot-swappable retro-style Bluetooth keyboard is a world away from cheap plastic clickety-clack options (which no doubt abound in Four Freedoms Plaza). It uses a desktop-space-saving 65 percent layout, but still squeezes in Bluetooth 5.1, Wireless 2.4GHz, and USB-C connectivity, meaning you can switch between up to three (doomsday) devices with ease. Available for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, it even comes in Doom's signature green. Chasseur What they don't tell you on Wookieepedia is that while Anakin Skywalker grew an impressive six inches by becoming Darth Vader, his shoe size remained the same. Sadly, Anakin's favorite black boots met the same fiery fate as his legs on Mustafar, but at least we've found him the perfect replacements. These handcrafted, leather-lined wellies come with a full-length side zip and eight separate calf fittings for a near-bespoke fit. The Chamolux rubber is all-natural too, and the in- and outsoles offer protection and cushioning for all the miles clocked up marching around the Death Star. There's even a neoprene-lined version for those chilly trips to Hoth. Avolt When the Power of the Dark Side doesn't quite reach far enough, we recommend the Avolt Square 1, possibly the most Star Wars-looking gadget on this list. Available in EU, US, and UK plug configurations—the Tatooine version is still TBC—it is the most beautifully minimalist multi-socket extension lead you'll find, and comes with a generous 5.9-foot cord and two USB-C ports, each supporting 30W fast charging. Kartell Even the most morally conflicted Jedi Knight needs decent storage options, and this classic by Italian designer Anna Castelli Ferrieri for Kartell ticks all his black boxes. First launched in 1967, it is made from glossy ABS plastic for a seam-free aesthetic, and is available in two, three, and four-compartment configurations. And no, before you ask, it's not the same plastic used to make that iconic helmet, because everyone knows that is an alloy composed of durasteel, plasteel, and obsidian. But, you know, it looks pretty close… LG George Lucas has provided differing origin stories to how the name "Darth Vader" originated, but he has mentioned the phrase "Dark Water" as inspiration. Which, by coincidence, is precisely what he'd get if he put that filthy cloak in the wash. This suitably obsidian appliance can blitz through an 11-pound load in just 39 minutes and, thanks to its use of steam, 99.99 percent of allergens are removed and creases reduced by 30 percent. It's Wi-Fi enabled too, and the AI Wash cycle can adjust the motion of the drum depending on the fabric. New and troublesome stains, meanwhile, can be custom-cleaned by downloading upgraded wash-cycle data. Gridy Despite being on the site of a Dark Side locus and just a stone's throw from where Obi-Wan left him for dead, Fortress Vader is surprisingly homely. Yes, it's a towering display of evil, but look closer and you might just spot a 3PO droid giving it a quick once-around with the Northern Cane magnetic broom set. Designed by studio Gridy, the powder-coated steel dustpan has a level front edge that maintains close contact with the floor, while the waist-height handle makes sweeping up lava dust a breeze. Dreame While primarily used to guide Stormtroopers around the half-finished corridors of the Death Star, the MSE-6 series 'Mouse' droid was also capable of repairs and even domestic chores. It's no match for the new X50 Dreame—though sadly for US readers, this class-leading next-generation self-cleaning robotic vacuum and mop isn't yet available in the States. It uses the latest 360-degree DToF (Direct Time of Flight) LIDAR-style navigation to avoid Imperial clutter, and the new ProLean system can lift the unit high enough to clear doors, steps and dividers up to 2.36 inches high. It can even reduce its height to just 3.5 inches, for a quick scooch under your low furniture, and can even search the house for your pets while you're away, and transmit a live feed to your smartphone.
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK seaside village with huge harbour and country's best fish and chips
Known as the gateway to the Farne Islands, this humble Northumberland village offers unique access to wildlife and dune-filled beaches. It is also home to one of the best fish and chip spots in the UK. This fishing village is home to a busy harbour and some of the best fish-and-chip takeaways in Northumberland. Tucked away in the region's rugged coastline, it is often overshadowed by more well-known neighbouring destinations. But for travellers in the know, this village is worth a detour. The village of Seahouses is just an hour's drive from Newcastle city centre, just up the A1 and across the coast. But with destinations like Amble, Alnmouth, Craster and the famous filming location of Bamburgh not too far, travellers unjustly overlook this charming fishing town for beachier hotspots. Seahouses certainly makes for a great base for exploring Northumberland's coastline, and is considered a gateway to the Farne Islands nearby. Taking one of the convenient boat trips from Seahouses out to the island allows travellers to see puffins, grey seal colonies and a wealth of wildlife year round. The village now known as Seahouses was originally named North Sunderland and was about a mile inland from the sea. That was until a fishing community was established by the sea, consisting of small cottages or 'sea houses'. When the introduction of the railway brought more tourists by the sea, the entire community came to be known as Seahouses. That said, travellers will find that some village locals still differentiate between North Sunderland, which maintains its own character. One of the distinguishing features of Seahouses is its stunning beaches. The two main beaches are located on the north and south of the village and harbour. St. Aidan's Dunes is on the north, offering a large sandy expanse that is also connected to the famous Bamburgh Beach. From here, travellers can enjoy incredible views of the Farne Islands and Bamburgh Castle. A smaller beach can be found south of the village, which stretches from the Seahouses golf course to the village of Beadnell. Both beaches are popular with tourists and locals alike, though rock pool explorers may be more drawn to the north side. The village has been gaining steady popularity since it was featured on BBC's Villages by the Sea in 2024. It has also begun to stand out for its impressive offering of a classic British dish. The Times rated the Seahouses staple, Lewis', as one of the best fish and chip shops in the country in both 2022 and 2023. The Times' critic Chris Haslam wrote in his review: "I asked 11 dog walkers on Beadnell and St Aidan's beaches to nominate the best chippy in the district. Three of them turned out to be tourists, but among the remaining eight, opinion was split down the middle between Neptune and Lewis's, 70m apart on Main Street, Seahouses.' While Seahouses is certainly worth a trip in its own right, if you are in the area it is still including a trip to Bamburgh on your itinerary. The Northumberland town was named one of the best seaside towns in the UK four years in a row by consumer champion, Which. Beating out 120 UK towns and villages for the top spot, Bamburgh's unspoilt beaches and iconic castle make it a consistent staycation hub. Part of its appeal is that it is easy to access by train and plane given its proximity to Newcastle airport and the Chathill train station. The same goes for Seahouses.
