First challenge for Fulham boss is to fight off predators

FULHAM’S rookie boss Chris Coleman last night acknowledged his first challenge is to fight off the predators circling in the wake of Jean Tigana’s £43 million spending spree and club record losses of £33.6 million.

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.