Fulham: Fulham

Fulham's return to Craven Cottage was marred by a substitution row that led to their game with Watford being abandoned at half-time.

Referee Peter Walton walked out rather than contravene new Fifa rules, which limits the number of replacements.

Both sides had used six permitted subs and opted to officially abandon the game, although it continued as an exhibition with a linesman refereeing.

By the end of the match, 40 substitutes had been used by the two teams.


Fulham secretary Lee Hoos slammed the Fifa regulations, which were introduced following complaints about the large number of substitutions used in internationals.

Fulham have revealed that veteran midfielder Billy McKinlay has signed for the club, but will mainly be used to bolster the reserve side.

The 35-year-old Scot left Leicester City at the end of last season, and has now moved down to London to join Chris Coleman's side.

Coleman said that the former Blackburn and Dundee United man had moved to Craven Cottage to help out with the reserves.

The Craven Cottage boss believes that McKinlay would also be a good squad member and could play in the first team if needed, before finally taking up a coaching role in the future.

Fulham hope to finally end their long-time pursuit of Everton's Tomasz Radzinski by clinching a 1.5m deal.

Boss Chris Coleman wants to sign the Canadian, who has rejected a three-year deal at Everton and publicly criticised manager David Moyes.

Fulham have made an offer for Portsmouth midfielder Amdy Faye.

Faye has attracted the interest of a host of clubs after an impressive debut season with Pompey last term.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman is a big fan of the powerful African ace and sees Faye as an ideal replacement for the departed Sean Davis.

Andy Cole is set to sign for Fulham after Blackburn Rovers agreed to let him leave on a free on Friday.

Cole's agent Paul Stretford said: "Talks are due in the next 24 hours."

Fulham manager Chris Coleman believes Andy Cole still has the hunger to succeed after signing the veteran striker from Blackburn.

The former Manchester United forward has signed a two-year deal with the Cottagers after slipping down the pecking order at Ewood Park.

Coleman has been looking to fill the void left by Louis Saha's departure for Old Trafford in January, a move which left the London club short of firepower.

Again not bad for a free, but Cole wont produce the goals that they need. He needs ten chances to bury one, and also I just can't stand the bastard. hehehe

Originally posted by TRD
Fulham hope to finally end their long-time pursuit of Everton's Tomasz Radzinski by clinching a 1.5m deal.

Boss Chris Coleman wants to sign the Canadian, who has rejected a three-year deal at Everton and publicly criticised manager David Moyes.

The transfers been settled, as of today (July 24,2004). Radzinski's going to Fulham.

Yeah could be a good signing for them.

Metz have reported Fulham to Fifa as they claim they are still to receive the money they are owed from the sale of Louis Saha to Manchester United.

The French club insist they had a sell-on clause inserted in Saha's contract when they sold him to Fulham in the summer of 2000.

Jean Tigana paid 2.1 million to Metz to take Saha to Fulham and the French international proved a major success at Craven Cottage.

Saha left Fulham for Manchester United in a 12.8 million deal in January 2004 and Metz claim they are owed 15 percent of the transfer fee.

Metz are still to receive any fee for the transfer and they have enlisted the help of Fifa to secure the money they feel they are owed.

Fulham midfielder Steed Malbranque has been ruled out of the start of the new season through injury.

The classy playmaker picked up a groin injury during pre-season training and the club do not want risk his fitness by rushing him back.

Malbranque will now miss the first few weeks of the season and the news is a blow for manager Chris Coleman.