Fulham statement leaves key questions unanswered

Back To The Cottage Press Release - 23/12/02

The statement from Fulham Football Club over the future of Craven Cottage leaves key questions unanswered, say Fulham fans' group BacktotheCottage.com BacktotheCottage.com, an umbrella campaign group supported and run by the independent Fulham Supporters Club and other fans groups', have issued the following comments: "Today's statement from Fulham Football Club does not answer the concerns of Fulham fans - in fact, it leaves the key questions unanswered. where is the evidence for the costs spiralling out of control in such a short period of time? what are the other options the Club claim to be looking at? do the Club still intend to redevelop the Craven Cottage site? do the Club stand by their previous commitment not to relocate Fulham Football Club outside the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham? "Unless and until these questions are satisfactorily answered, the level of trust Fulham fans have in the Club will deteriorate. We have been here before." "Fulham Football Club's connection with Craven Cottage is not simply an "emotional" bond - it is an integral part of the nature of the Club. Moving away from Fulham on a permanent basis puts the very future of the Club in doubt. Such a course of action will not be in the interests of fans, but crucially will also not be in the business interests of Mohammed Al Fayed and the Fulham Football Club board. "All Fulham fans left Craven Cottage at the end of last season with the promise that, after redevelopment of the site, Fulham Football Club would return to their historic riverside home. The Chairman of Fulham Football Club has a responsibility to keep that promise or risk permanently souring the special bond which exists between him and true Fulham fans." ENDS