'Outside influences' led to Saha departure - Coleman

Chris Coleman revealed a combination of needing to balance the books and “outside influences” led to Fulham deciding to sell Louis Saha to Manchester United.

The French striker is thrashing out personal terms with United in what is thought to be a £12m (€17m) deal, despite repeated claims from Coleman and chairman Mohammed Al Fayed that he was not for sale at any price.

But the player’s determination to join the Barclaycard Premiership champions was matched by Sir Alex Ferguson’s resolve to land his number one transfer target.

Speaking after tonight’s 3-1 defeat at Newcastle, Coleman said on Sky Sports Premiership Plus: “From a football point of view I did not want to sell Louis Saha.

“The chairman and chief executive have given me their reasons for selling Louis. Obviously it was a business decision and I will go along with that and stay by that. You have just got to get on with it.

He added: “The fact we are going back to Craven Cottage is going to cost a lot of money… no-one can accuse our chairman of not putting his hand in his pocket.

“At the end of the day I think he thought circumstances involved – there have been a lot of outside influences, which are out of our control, a lot of people were getting into Louis Saha’s head, and I think the chairman thought time had come where he had had enough and they have come to that decision and that’s that.

“I am not angry – that is football.”