Fulham: Fulham

Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor believes Chris Coleman can turn the club's fortunes around next season.

Coleman has stepped up from caretaker manager to succeed Jean Tigana, who left towards the end of last season.

Taylor said: "Chris came in for the last five games when we were in real danger of relegation.

"Bolton and West Ham were picking up points and we had the toughest run-in of them all.

"Chris got the lads motivated and we got out of trouble.

"He is highly respected by the rest of the players and I am convinced we can do very well next season."

Coleman seems to have his head screwed on and the players resept him...

Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed held a summit with chief executive Bruce Langham on Tuesday and formulated the plan to recruit the club's number one summer transfer target - a 20-goals-a-season striker.

Harrods mogul Al Fayed is in London this week after Inland Revenue rules forced him to remain in Paris for two months after he became a tax exile in March.

In his meeting with Langham the subject of Chris Coleman's preferred recruits was high on the agenda - with the focus on the man who Fulham want to provide the backbone of the Cottagers' attack next season.

Steve Marlet, the France international whose controversial �11.5million transfer from Lyon in August 2001 will see Fulham hauled before FIFA, was supposed to be the player to provide the goals.

However, he managed a total of just 10 league strikes in Fulham's first two seasons in the Premiership and Al Fayed now wants his front line improved.

Club sources say a maximum of three players are expected to be recruited in the off-season, with the defence - which could well lose Andy Melville and Martin Djetou if they fail to agree new deals - also due to be strengthened.

However, Charlton left-back Chris Powell has snubbed a one-year offer as he hopes to be given a two-year contract by either Portsmouth or West Ham.

Fulham targeted Powell because of regular number three Rufus Brevett's January sale to the Hammers and the fact they did not renew of Pierre Wome's loan from Bologna.

Fulham have pledged to appeal after FIFA ordered them to pay Valencia almost �500,000 - because they broke transfer laws by making John Carew's January 2002 move subject to a medical, which he failed.

The Cottagers' lawyers are already working on their response after FIFA's ruling.

World football's governing body say a medical must be undertaken before "concluding the contract - otherwise the prospective new club will be liable to pay the full amount of compensation for training, development and/or salary due."

Carew failed his medical, Valencia reported Fulham to FIFA and they were ordered to pay the Spanish side 5% of Carew's proposed fee, which equates to �478,934.

Fulham originally said the total payment was �7.5million but FIFA's figures mean the fee actually works out at �9.58million.

Giant Norwegian striker Carew, 6ft 5in, did not pass the medical due to his alleged 'jumper's knee' condition.

Fulham are furious they almost ended up paying a fortune for a player with a serious medical problem - and are equally angry over FIFA's verdict they must shell out �500,000 "within 30 days".

A club statement read: "The club are consulting with their legal experts and plans to appeal against this decision."

The Londoners claim they merely interpreted FIFA's laws differently to Valencia - and are bemused that, by being fined just 5% of Carew's fee, they have not been found entirely innocent or guilty.

I think Coleman will do a good job at Fulham. They are a club I would like to see do weel, hopefully they can sign a decent striker, then I think Europe is a definate possibility.

I'm not sure about them making europe,but your right he should do a good job and hopefully get them playing as a unit as they do have some decent players...

Fulham boss Chris Coleman has toasted Andy Melville's commitment to a one-year contract extension - and is optimistic Martin Djetou will also stay at Loftus Road.

Cottagers captain Melville, 34, rejected a spring contract offer which featured a substantial pay cut but has now reached agreement on a deal to keep him at the club until summer 2004.

The veteran centre-back has emphasised his desire to play top-flight football at least until Euro 2004, which he hopes to play in with Wales.

A Fulham statement read: "Following the successful conclusion of negotiations, Fulham are delighted to announce Andy Melville has signed a one-year extension to his contract."

Coleman said: "Melv is coming in on Tuesday to sign for another year.

"I'm delighted and really chuffed we've agreed terms to keep him here.

"He's a real unsung hero and we miss him when he's not in the team.

"He's such a professional and his experience and positional sense is second to none."

As for Djetou, Parma revealed on Thursday that Fulham's bid to sign him for another season hit the buffers because of his wages.

The utility man, 28, had a successful campaign on loan with the Cottagers and on Wednesday accused the Italian club of stalling on talks over his future.

But the Serie A side claim the real reason behind the impasse is the Frenchman's wages and cost-cutting Fulham's reluctance to commit to another 12 months of payments at that level.

However, Coleman told www.fulhamfc.com: "We're close to re-signing Djet.

Fulham have jumped ahead of three Premiership rivals in the race to sign Senegal star Henri Camara.

Camara last week insisted the Cottagers, Tottenham, Birmingham and Middlesbrough were chasing him following his decision to quit newly-relegated French club Sedan.

But Fulham have now opened talks with the 26-year-old striker, who first caught the eye last summer following his impressive performances for surprise quarter-finalists Senegal in the World Cup.

He eventually ended up at Sedan but found himself in a grim losing battle to survive in the French top flight.

Fulham defender Abdeslam Ouaddou and goalkeeper Martin Herrera will spend the whole of the 2003/4 campaign out on loan.

Morocco international Ouaddou, who signed for the Cottagers from Nancy two years ago for �2m, has returned to France to join top-flight club Rennes, providing he passes a medical.

Argentinian Herrera, who joined on a free transfer from Alaves last summer and has played just two Premiership games, will return to his homeland with Estudiantes de La Plata.

Manager Chris Coleman told the club's official website: "Abdeslam will still have a year left on his contract when he comes back and a season away playing regularly will only make him a better player when he returns.

"Martin is another who naturally wants first-team football, and with Maik Taylor and Edwin van der Sar here, he knows he's not going to get that which is why we've let him go back to Argentina for a season."

Former Fulham midfielder John Collins arrived at the training ground for one last time recently to say goodbye to his former colleagues.

Collins retired at the end of last season and he told the club's official website: "I've come back to see a few friends and to see how the boys are looking. I'm still living nearby so I thought it would be nice to pop in and wish them well for the season.

"I'm going to take a break from football now - spend a few years away from the game. I might do some television work and after that I may come back at management level.

"I'll be moving back to the south of France and that was always my plan once I finished playing. It's a big move for the family but we're all looking forward to it."

Fulham have signed experienced left-back Jerome Bonnissel on a two-year deal from French club Bordeaux.

Bonnissel who spent the second half of last season on loan at Rangers, impressed Fulham boss Chris Coleman after spending time with Fulham during their training camp in Austria.

Fulham have signed Welsh international goalkeeper Mark Crossley from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.

The Barnsley-born 34-year-old has put to paper on a two-year deal at the London club.

Sunderland's bargain basement summer sale could be set to continue as Fulham close in on American midfielder Claudio Reyna.

The Wearsiders have confirmed they are in discussions with the Londoners over the 30-year-old former Rangers star, but no fee has yet been agreed and the situation is ongoing.

Fulham made their move after England Under-21 international Sean Davis, a target for Everton and Middlesbrough, handed in a transfer request last week.

Manager Chris Coleman does not want to sell the 23-year-old, but is having to face the prospect of being unable to keep him and is busily trying to line up a replacement.

Fulham new-boy Jerome Bonnissel has emphasised his determination to nail down a regular berth in Chris Coleman's starting XI.

The former Bordeaux defender, who arrived in west London on a two-year deal, faces a duel with Jon Harley for the left-back berth.

Bonnissel played the full 90 minutes of the 2-1 home friendly victory against Real Mallorca.

Now he hopes to keep the shirt for Saturday's Premiership opener against Middlesbrough at Loftus Road.

Germany youth international Moritz Volz has joined Fulham on loan from Arsenal for the rest of the year.

The 20-year-old right-back also spent some of last season on loan elsewhere in the capital, playing 10 games for Wimbledon between January and April.

His only first-team game for Arsenal was as a substitute in the Worthington Cup tie against Sunderland.

Fulham are facing up to life without striker Steve Marlet following the France international's loan move to Marseille.

Marlet has joined the French club until the end of the season, at which point Marseille can either agree a 12-month extension or sign the 28-year-old forward for an undisclosed fee.

But if he gets his way, Marlet, who scored just 11 league goals from 55 appearances after his �11.5million switch from Lyon in August 2001, will not be seen in a Fulham shirt for some time.

Fulham boss Chris Coleman has signed former Wales team-mate Mark Pembridge from Everton for an undisclosed fee.

The 32-year-old midfielder has agreed a two-year deal with an option to extend it for a third year.

Claudio Reyna has hit back at Fulham's angry reaction to his move to Manchester City.

Cottagers boss Chris Coleman claimed Reyna's decision had left a bitter taste in his mouth as he believed the United States skipper was set to seal a �2.5million move to the London outfit from Sunderland last week until City stepped in with their 11th-hour offer.

However, while Reyna said he could understand why Coleman was so upset, he claimed to be entirely within his rights to look at all the options available to him and once City had made their interest known, there was never any doubt as to where we would go.

Fulham hope to complete the signing of USA international defender Carlos Bocanegra by early next week.

The 24-year old Chicago Fire centre-back, who spent a week on trial with the Cottagers last month, has completed his contract with Major League Soccer and is available on a free transfer.

Bocanegra has won the MLS best defender award for the last two seasons and his capture would be a major coup for Fulham boss Chris Coleman who revealed several Premiership clubs were tracking the player.

I heard that Fulham hope to complete the signing of USA defender Carlos Bocanegra by early next week.So it will be interesting to see what he is like.

U.S. defender Carlos Bocanegra completed a three-year deal with Fulham, joining four other Americans who play regularly in England's Premier League. Bocanegra was transferred for free from the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer on Tuesday. He is a two-time MLS defender of the year. The Californian has been one of the top American defenders since joining the national team in 2001.