First challenge for Fulham boss is to fight off predators
The 32-year-old, the Premiership's youngest boss since Attilio Lombardo's brief spell as Crystal Palace player-manager in 1998, was installed at Loftus Road on a 12-month rolling contract. Coleman, who recorded three wins in five games as caretaker coach to steer the Cottagers to safety, only turned to coaching in October after being forced to retire due to a broken leg sustained in a car crash and has just passed his UEFA "B" coaching badge.
Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed picked Coleman ahead of ex-Bayer Leverkusen boss Klaus Toppmoller and Derby's interim manager George Burley and the first task of his reign is to fend off raids for his star names.
Right-back Steve Finnan and midfielder Steed Malbranque, arguably Fulham's two best players are consistently linked with summer switches to Anfield with Finnan's move reported to be a "done deal." And Coleman said: "I've seen the stories about Steve Finnan over the last couple of months but, as far as I'm concerned, he hasn't signed for Liverpool. And he was certainly still wearing the Fulham shirt and playing with pride at the end of the season. So, until I'm told otherwise, he's still a Fulham player.
"I know which players I'd like at the club and which players I'd like to bring in. But knowing them and getting them are two different things.
"The money won't be like it was in the past and I'm under no illusions it probably won't be a lot."
Coleman only told his superiors he wanted the job last week a move which persuaded Al Fayed to scrap possible final interviews with Toppmoller and Burley at the Ritz Hotel in Paris where is living.
Toppmoller, meeting other clubs in Switzerland and Luxembourg, had no knowledge of Coleman's appointment until lunchtime yesterday.
Fulham Supporters' Club press officer John Aitken told the Press Association: "We ran polls on the supporters' club website about who the fans wanted.
"About 1,000 people voted and Cookie got more than 70% of the votes against Toppmoller and Burley. I don't think Toppmoller would have been accepted by the fans because he's too different.
"And Burley's a nice guy but not a Fulham person. We need someone who understands the club and that's Chris Coleman."
