Coleman laments Pardew sacking

Fulham manager Chris Coleman today accused West Ham's new Icelandic chairman Eggert Magnusson of not giving manager Alan Pardew "a fair crack of the whip".

Pardew was sacked by the Hammers on Tuesday, just over a week after Magnusson took over the reins.

"It's a shame because I think he's done a fine job there," said Coleman, grateful that he works for foreign owner Mohamed Al Fayed, who has proved his long-term commitment to the club by spending £150m (€223m) of his own money.

"I was disappointed for Alan Pardew. It's been really difficult for him and it's been made difficult by all the talk of the takeover bid.

"I don't think his chairman helped him out when he said something like 'I'll give him my backing and if he doesn't do it I'll slit his throat.' I don't think you should use words like that.

"Alan took them over in the division below. They were going nowhere, and he had to clear out a lot of the players.

"He's had to balance the books; they've missed out on the play-offs, then they got in the play-offs the next year and won the play-offs.

"They've stormed the first season in the [Barclays] Premiership, top 10 and the FA Cup final.

"That was always going to make it difficult for him this season, because of the expectation.

"The second one's always going to be difficult anyway, and I just don't think he's been given a fair crack of the whip."

With Liverpool and Newcastle the latest Premiership clubs to attract the interest of overseas investors, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger this week criticised the influx of foreign owners into the English game.

But Coleman is delighted to have the backing of Al Fayed, Craven Cottage's 77-year-old Egyptian-born chairman.

"I've only had one chairman because it's my first job, so I don't know any different - and, of course, I'm going to say I enjoy working for my chairman," admitted Coleman.

"But our chairman's been here for 10 years now and he has put his money where his mouth is.

"He's backed the club; he's spent a lot of money on the club. He didn't come in for two or three years with the thought it was a new toy for him.

"He loves the club; he's still got the enthusiasm for the club he's always had.

"He's done exactly what he said he would; he got us in the Premiership with his backing, and it will be interesting to see where a lot of the other chairmen who have come in will be in 10 years time."

Coleman pointed out that speculating on making money could not have been the attraction for Al Fayed.

"I don't think our chairman can be accused of that. It's cost him a lot of money -but because he loves football, he's spent something like 150 million quid of his own money on the club," he added.