Fulham refuse to deny Finnan move

FULHAM last night declined the opportunity to deny fresh reports of Liverpool’s interest in their highly-rated right-back Steve Finnan.

Cottagers’ chief executive Bruce Langham refused to discuss new claims that the club rejected a £4 million offer for the Republic of Ireland international last week.

Langham is angry about the FA ignoring the advice of their video advisory panel and upholding a ban on goalkeeper Maik Taylor for Saturday’s home clash with Southampton.

Asked about Finnan, he said: “I’m only here to talk about the FA thing. I’ve done that.”

Last month, Fulham fanned rumours Finnan could be on the move to Anfield or Manchester City by clinching a deal with his cash-strapped former club Notts County to cancel out the 15% sell-on clause written into his November 1998 transfer.

County, in administration, accepted a £275,000 fee from the Londoners, meaning they would lose out financially if Finnan, 26, was sold for more than £1.83 million.

A County spokesman said: “Fulham paid us £275,000 to buy out the clause. We needed the money to see us through to the end of the season.”

On a hectic day at Fulham, the club also abandoned their pursuit of Ipswich striker Marcus Bent, a long-time transfer target. Town boss Joe Royle claimed the Cottagers’ decision was due to the tightening of purse-strings at Loftus Road. It is believed Cottagers manager Jean Tigana stepped up his interest in the ex-England Under-21 forward this week.

However, Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has launched a wave of cost-cutting this year and Royle says that was why the move fell apart before a solid bid was made. Royle’s First Division club are in administration and vulnerable to bids for their players outside transfer windows.

Langham, asked about 24-year-old Bent said: “There’s honestly nothing to say. He’s a centre-forward and plays for Ipswich.” Asked if the player might sign before the game with Southampton, he said: “No”.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland international Taylor, sent off for fouling Simon Davies in the 1-1 draw at Tottenham on February 24, questioned the need for the FA’s video advisory panel to exist after disciplinary chiefs and referee Graham Barber ignored its guidance and upheld his one-match suspension.