Al Fayed halts flow of funds into Fulham

Fulham 1

The Cottagers' Egyptian chairman wrote an impassioned article aimed directly at Fulham's unhappy fans in the match programme for yesterday's 1-0 victory against Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.

The Harrods owner, who has shelled out more than £100 million to deliver the dream of Premiership football, last month abandoned plans to spend another £100million on the redevelopment of Craven Cottage.

Al Fayed, now considering selling the club's home of 107 years and buying a nearby site for a new stadium, was enraged by news of a supporters' protest before today's game.

The 'Back to the Cottage' pressure group dished out leaflets urging Al Fayed to resurrect plans to return to the club's old ground. The fans provoked a furious response from the chairman, who wrote: "I have already invested more than £100million in Fulham but the days of profligate spending are now over. Football is danger of going broke if it continues to pay itself more than it earns.

"It's a situation which has to be urgently addressed and I want Fulham to lead the way. We must tighten our belts and introduce prudent budgetary control. That will apply all the way down from transfer fees, player salaries and stadium development.

"There seems to be a general perception I will continue to bankroll Fulham with limitless funds. I will not. "I may have deep pockets but I am not a fool with my money. To continue pouring funds into Fulham for very little financial return is nothing short of folly. It makes no business sense at all. Make no mistake, whatever is genuinely needed to maintain our Premiership status and continue my dream of making us one of Britain's biggest clubs will be provided.

"So, financially, we must become a leaner and fitter club."

Sean Davis, who bagged the 39th-minute winner against Boro, pleaded with fans to trust Al Fayed.

"The protest today didn't have any affect on the players. We all want to go back to Craven Cottage. The chairman's doing his utmost to get us back there so we have to be patient and believe in him."

Davis scored in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who could hand the midfielder his first senior call-up against Australia at Upton Park next month.

Fulham assistant boss Christian Damiano, asked if he felt former Under-21 international Davis was ready for the full England team, said: "That's a question for the coach of the national team, as England have many great midfielders. I'm happy for Sean because he scored and we won. He's improved very well and shows the great spirit we have at the club."

Al Fayed's financial crackdown has not wrecked Jean Tigana's hopes of landing Tottenham outcast Sergei Rebrov. The Ukrainian's agent, Sandor Varga, was at the game yesterday, and although Fulham chief executive Bruce Langham issued a terse "no comment" when asked about Rebrov, Damiano was more forthcoming: "We don't have any more news at the moment. I know we've been in contact about him, but it's impossible to say any more now."

Middlesbrough have lost their last nine league games away from Teesside, without scoring a single goal. They are the only side unbeaten at home but their awful results on the road, taking just four points from a dozen games and without a goal in the last 12 hours, are wrecking their early-season hopes of European football.

Steve McClaren delivered a scathing assessment of his team's showing yesterday: "I can't defend the players or the performance. It was poor and Fulham deserved to win."

Davis struck at the end of an uneventful first half. The second period was more entertaining, with Boro surviving an incredible goalmouth scramble and Facundo Sava hitting the bar.

The best effort by Steve McClaren side's was Joseph-Desire Job's fierce strike, flipped over the bar by Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor. However, Tigana's men fully deserved the three points that edged them away from the relegation zone.

FULHAM: Taylor, Finnan, Brevett, Djetou, Goma, Goldbaek, Legwinski, Davis, Malbranque, Sava (Boa Morte 90), Marlet.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Queudrue, Southgate, Vidmar, Parnaby, Geremi, Wilson, Wilkshire (Job 45), Greening, Maccarone, Whelan (Nemeth 64).

Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).