Mo take us home!

Back to the Cottage Press Release - 07/11/02

Following Sunday's Arsenal game, when thousands of our leaflets were snapped up by Fulham supporters, we would like to clarify a few points regarding the Back To The Cottage campaign's position. Firstly, this is NOT IN ANY WAY an anti Mohammed Al Fayed campaign. Fulham fans retain a deep affection for the Chairman and are grateful for all that he has done for our club and the warmth and generosity he has shown to fans during his time in charge. However, many of us are increasingly concerned about the quality of advice being given to Mo. We believe that CEO Bruce Langham's recent statement that Fulham will need a 38,000 stadium within three years is at best deluded, at worst suicidal. Relocating to a new stadium with a 38,000 capacity would require a fresh planning application, and this would inevitably bring opposition from a new set of locals. Such a relocation would also lead to a further haemmorhage of Fulham's support - already badly hit by the move to Loftus Road. There is however a site in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham where football has already been played for more than 100 years: Craven Cottage. The council has already granted planning permission for a 30,000 stadium there. It is where the spirit of our football club lies, and as soon as Mo announces that work is about to begin, he can expect a return to the kind of rapturous ovations he received from Fulham fans as recently as last April - as well as increased crowds at Loftus Road as 'light appears at the end of the tunnel'! Until then we remain loyal, but restless. Mo take us home! There's only one Craven Cottage!