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Fulham in freefall as they sack yet another manager – Claudio Ranieri goes

5 years ago
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Fulham have now sacked Claudio Ranieri.

The West London club becoming a bit of a laughing stock as they desperately try to stop what looks an all but certain fall into the Championship.

First of all Fulham allowed Jokanovic, who got the club promoted, to spend over £100m in the summer, only to sack him three months into the season.

They have now sacked Premier League winning and vastly experienced Claudio Ranieri after only three months.

It sums it up when you look at what the Fulham owner said (see below) when appointing Claudio Ranieri in November: ‘Claudio is risk-free and ready-made for the Premier League, and particularly so for what we need at this moment at Fulham.’

They are 10 points adrift of safety with 10 game remaining, so all but certain to go down regardless.

Surely they would at least have been better off seeing the season out without more major upheaval and used Ranieri’s experience to help them.

A relief for Newcastle and the other relegation candidates anyway, as with Claudio Ranieri gone, surely any faint hopes of survival are gone.

So far only involved as a coach, former NUFC midfielder has been asked to step up as caretaker manager for the time being.

Fulham statement (14 November 2018) when appointing Claudio Ranieri – Shahid Khan saying:

“Making a change without having the right answer or succession plan was not an option, so having someone of Claudio’s calibre ready to accept our challenge was comforting but, most of all, essential.

“Claudio is risk-free and ready-made for the Premier League, and particularly so for what we need at this moment at Fulham.

“His recent body of work with Leicester City is literally legendary, and then you look at Claudio’s experience with Chelsea and big clubs throughout Europe, and it’s pretty evident we are welcoming an extraordinary football man to Fulham Football Club.”

Fulham official statement today (28 February 2019):

Fulham Football Club Chairman Shahid Khan today named Scott Parker as Caretaker Manager, replacing Claudio Ranieri.

Khan released this statement following his conversation with Ranieri:

“Following our discussion this afternoon, Claudio Ranieri agreed to my decision that a change was in the best interest of everyone. No surprise to me, Claudio was a perfect gentleman, as always.

“Claudio’s tenure at Fulham didn’t produce the outcome we anticipated and needed when I appointed him as Manager in November, but be assured he is not solely to blame for the position we are in today.

“Claudio walked into a difficult situation, inheriting a side that gained only one point in its prior eight matches, and he provided an immediate boost by leading our Club to nine points in his first eight matches as Manager.

“Though we were unable to maintain that pace thereafter, I am grateful for his effort. Claudio leaves Fulham as our friend and he will undoubtedly experience success again soon.

“I am asking Scott Parker to serve as our Caretaker Manager. Scott’s immediate assignment is merely to help us stabilize, grow and rediscover ourselves as a football club.

“If Scott can answer that challenge, and our players respond to the opportunity, perhaps victories will follow in the months ahead.

“What’s most important at this moment, however, is to regroup in a smart and deliberate manner that will serve our long-term vision for sustainable success.

“If we’re able to do that and win some matches to make a stand late in the season, all the better.”

Claudio Ranieri added:

“I am obviously disappointed with the recent results and that we could not build on the good start we made following my appointment.

“Finally, I would like to thank the Club, the players and the fans for the support they have given me during my time at the Club.”

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