As the fixtures for 2003/04 season are published, Fulham Football Club are at the centre of a crisis as, according to their own unaudited figures, just 6,300 season tickets have been sold – half the number of the last season at Craven Cottage. The Club have given unsure season ticket holders 21 days to respond, and the Fulham Supporters’ Trust are asking for an answer on where Fulham will be playing in 2004/05 within the same timescale. In the light of this and the continuing uncertainty and lack of information from the Club over the future of the stadium, the Fulham Supporters’ Trust have today issued the following statement:-

“It should be a matter of grave concern to Fulham Football Club that half of the season ticket holders have given up their tickets since May 2002. The club has improved its season-ticket terms, yet fans are voting with their feet, and not committing to watch Fulham play Premiership football at Loftus Road, because of continuing uncertainty over the future of the Craven Cottage site.

“In an attempt to help maximise season ticket sales, we suggested to fans that were unsure to add a caveat to their season ticket renewals stating “this payment is provided upon condition that permission is not sought for an exclusively non-football related use of Craven Cottage.” That the Club have refused to make this reassurance to core supporters highlights yet again the damaging uncertainty over the future of Craven Cottage, and casts doubt on the Chairman’s statement that the September 2002 deal with Fulham River Projects was merely a refinancing arrangement. That deal was subject to planning permission for housing being achieved within three years. Supporters are increasingly fearful that this is the club's ambition.

“The current situation is hugely unsettling for fans, and potentially destabilising for the long-term health of the Club. We do not want to see Fulham follow Wimbledon into homeless oblivion. The Club have asked those who added a caveat to their season ticket applications to re-consider by 7 July. Given that the Club have previously stated 2003/04 will be our last at Loftus Road, we are asking the Club to help those individuals make their decision by announcing unambiguously where Fulham Football Club will play for the 2004/05 season within the same 21 day timescale.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.1. Back to the Cottage is the campaign name for the Fulham Supporters’ Trust. For more information please visit and bookmark our website at www.backtothecottage.com