Thomas Frank calls on Brentford fans to support Ivan Toney during ban in powerful speech

Thomas Frank gave a special mention to Ivan Toney as he addressed the Brentford crowd following their final Premier League game of the season.

Brentford beat league champions Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday to secure a commendable ninth place finish in the table.

Toney has played a big role in his side's top-half finish, having scored an impressive 20 league goals in 33 matches this season.

However, his season was cut short after he received an eight-month ban for breaking Football Association betting rules.

The 27-year-old watched his team's final league game of the season from the stands, with Frank sending him a rousing message during his on-field speech.

🗣️ “Please give him your support, I know he will come back even stronger.”

Thomas Frank calls on his fans to support Ivan Toney. pic.twitter.com/GqgzLbKO7F

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) May 28, 2023

The Brentford boss called on the club's fans to support Toney during his period away from football, claiming he'll come back even stronger.

"We also managed to create a 20-goal goal-scorer," he said before pumping up the crowd, who chanted the star forward's name.

"Please give him your support, I know he will come back even stronger."

Speaking before Sunday's league clash, the Dane hit out at Toney's ban, suggesting the relationship between football and the gambling industry needs to be reviewed.

"Football and gambling's relationship needs a review," he said.

"We got a massive reminder. The authorities have a massive task to make sure we do this much better."

Ivon Toney watching the rest of the brentford squad doing lap of honor from the tunnel, with tears in his eyes according to danish journalist.

🥺 pic.twitter.com/gSDSc0s9e1

— Luka (@Lukathfc) May 28, 2023

The 49-year-old added: "Yes, Ivan did something wrong but what I don't get is how can you not let him be involved in football at all for the first four months?

"What do you gain from that? If you want to rehabilitate people you give them education, you do something, and now he is left on his own.

"There's no doubt for me that the first four months he could be involved in football, he should be forced to go into 100 schools to tell them about his football and background, that's how it should work, but I'm a football coach, what do I know?"