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Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 16/03/21...

Started by WhiteJC, June 16, 2021, 12:01:59 AM

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WhiteJC

Sheffield United have already established advantage over West Brom and Fulham in promotion hunt

Fans have criticised the Blades board but things are looking far more uncertain at the other newly-relegated clubs at a time when they have a big advantage in the Championship

Sheffield United could scarcely have had a worst season last year, but they may already have set themselves up to make a better go at bouncing back than their fellow Premier League drop-outs.

The idea that newly-relegated sides and their parachute payments hold a big advantage over their Championship rivals used to be mere folk wisdom that was not borne out by reality, but over the past two seasons that has started to come true.

Five of the last six sides to be relegated from the Premier League have finished in the Championship's top six in the year immediately following their relegation, with Huddersfield Town the notable exception.

That suggests that if a relegated club has their business even remotely in order after their drop, they should be capable of heading straight back to the top – and that could play right into Sheffield United's hands.

For all the parallels between the Blades and the Terriers in their two-season stays in the Premier League, awful second years and departures of their iconic and revered managers, United have on paper already started to sidestep many of those issues that afflicted Huddersfield and have left them fighting it out towards the bottom of the Championship.

Whereas their fellow former Premier League clubs? Oof.

West Brom are still yet to appoint a replacement for Sam Allardyce after he turned down the offer to stay on as manager for the new season.

The board refused to sign off on appointing Chris Wilder, which has in turn led technical and sporting director Luke Dowling to leave the club. Their second-choice appointment, David Wagner, turned the Baggies down in favour of Swiss champions Young Boys.

And Fulham? Scott Parker remains in situ as manager, but doubts have been raised over his future and their squad last season was also hugely dependent on loan players with Mario Lemina, Alphonse Areola, Ola Aina, Ademola Lookman, Joachim Andersen, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Josh Maja all regulars for the Cottagers.

That gives them a huge squad rebuild to do without the benefit of being able to sell those players on – though the positive for them is that they won't need to shift them from their wage bill either.

In principle, the greater stability and clarity of vision at Bramall Lane should stand United in very good stead next season as long as they can avoid the kind of post-relegation hangover that traumatised Huddersfield two seasons ago...and give Jokanovic the players he needs with a few shrewd acquisitions.



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-united-already-established-advantage-20813691

WhiteJC

Five suggestions for the Director of Scouting role
Louis suggests five individuals who meet the criteria for Fulham's new Director of Scouting role.


Yesterday, I analysed and explained the role and responsibilities of the Director of Scouting, the criteria that individuals must meet for the job, and how this position slots into Fulham's hierarchical structure. The criteria set out by the club establishes that only a select few have the knowledge, experience and ability can realistically apply, with the criteria even ruling out popular option Roy Hodgson.

Steve Walsh, who has held roles at Chelsea, Newcastle, Leicester, Hull and Everton over the years is rumoured to be in for the role. He is credited for discovering Gianfranco Zola, Didier Drogba, Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'golo Kante, among others. However, who else would you like to see linked to becoming the Director of Scouting? Here are some recommendations.

Dan Ashworth
Dan Ashworth held the of Academy Director of Peterborough United in 2000, before becoming Cambridge United's Centre of Excellence Director in 2001. In 2004, he relocated to the midlands, becoming the Assistant Youth Team Manager West Brom, under ex-England U21s manager Aidy Boothroyd, before successive job promotions to beled him to the position of Baggies' Youth Team Manager in 2004 and Sporting and Technical Director in 2007.

During his time at the Hawthorns, Ashworth nurtured the talent of Kemar Roofe, Romaine Sawyers, Chris Wood and Luke Daniels, with The Athletic stating that he "carved out a strong reputation for his excellent coaching". Dan also oversaw a successful transfer strategy, with the affordable signings of Peter Odemwingie, Jonas Olsson and Claudio Yacob, although there were also some failures. After five years with the Baggies, Ashworth was snapped up by the FA and appointed the Director of Elite Development, aiding the creation of the "England DNA", which created the glut of young talent which England currently possesses.

Now, Ashworth holds the role of Technical Director at Brighton and Hove Albion – a position similar to Director of Football. Having joined in late 2018/19, the difference in strategy and playing style is notable, with Dan focusing on youth and continuous improvement – two values that Fulham should look to utilise. In 2019/20, the first full season with both Ashworth and Graham Potter, Ashford oversaw the purchases of the likes of Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster and Leandro Trossard, whilst Aaron Connolly and Steven Alzate both broke into the first team. Although the purchases of Neil Maupay and Aaron Mooy have been somewhat less successful.

Over the last 12 months, Ashworth has bought five players under the age of 21 and promoting another from the youth set-up. Three of these youngsters become features of the first team. At the same time, he has also made careful and calculated purchases of experienced talents, such as Adam Lallana and Joel Veltman, which will surely help the Seagulls progress into the future.

Ross Wilson
Wilson talked his way into a player liaison job at Falkirk through a stellar interview in 2004 with their then-manager John Hughes. However, he was soon put to other uses with his role expanded to include dealing with agents, developing an academy strategy and organising a training ground relocation. Wilson brought in the Head of Academy Scouting and arranged the deployment of scouts, leading to the young talents of Scott Arfield, Murray Wallace, Ryan Flynn, Conor McGrandles, Stephen Kingsley, Jay Fulton and Tony Gallagher emerging, with their sales to English teams earning Falkirk more than £5 million collectively, while Falkirk achieved Scottish Premier League status for five consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2010 – a club record.

Wilson too moved down south, assuming the role of Head of Recruitment at Watford, forming a "strong bond" with the club's Academy Director before leaving after just one season as the Pozzo family bought the club in 2012. He moved onto fellow Championship side Huddersfield to become their newly-created Head of Football Operations, which involved overseeing the transition to the second division as well as improving the academy, scouting and training facilities.

In 2015, Wilson joined Premier League club Southampton as the Director of Scouting and Recruitment, before being promoted to Director of Football Operations in 2018. There, Wilson signed the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Danny Ings, Nathon Redmond, Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. Although, like with all Directors of Football, his list of signings is blotted with the names of a few failures. He also oversaw successful succession planning, following the departure of key squad players and managers during his time on the South coast and the continued progression of youth.

Wilson returned to Scotland in 2019, joining Rangers to oversee their recruitment, academy, medical and training infrastructure as their Sporting Director on the quest to topple Celtic alongside Steven Gerrard. While in Glasgow, Wilson has purchased some real talent, such as Kemar Roofe, Ianis Hagi and Cedric Itten, and youngster Nathan Patterson was promoted to aid the Ibrox side to their first SPL title win in a decade. Prying Wilson away from the reigning Scottish champions may prove near-on impossible, but with his track record, it's certainly worth a try.

Steve Hitchen
Steve Hitchen is rumoured to be on his way out of his current club, Tottenham Hotspur, as the North London club are expected to announce the appointment of Fabio Paratici as their new Director of Football in the coming days. This means that Hitchen, who currently controls Tottenham's transfers as he occupies the Technical Director role, will effectively be rendered ineffective. This is something that has reportedly upset Tottenham staff and players, with some potentially on the way out of Hotspur Way.

Hitchen, previously a defender for Macclesfield Town and Blackburn Rovers, began working as as a scout for Tottenham in 2008 before leaving for Liverpool in 2011. However, after just a year, the Salford-born man returned to London, working for QPR as a scout between 2012 and 2016, when Steve moved to Derby County and assumed the role of Head Scout.

However, Hitchen only lasted a matter of months at the Rams, taking a sabbatical from football before being headhunted for Tottenham's Chief Scout role in early 2017. In January 2019, Hitchen was promoted to the Technical Director role. Thus, during his time at Tottenham, Hitchen has played a part in the signing of talents such as Lucas Moura, Tanguy Ndombele, Ryan Sessegnon, Giovani Lo Celso, Sergio Reguilon and Pierre Emile Hojbjerg. Spurs have also given debuts to Kyle Walker-Peters, Oliver Skipp and Japhet Tanganga.

Hitchen seems to have a penchant for young prospects, which the club can develop, while also recruiting some experience. However, his record is not clean, with some less successful signings including Fernando Llorente, Joe Hart and Juan Foyth. Hitchen may be worth a gamble, especially as he meets the experience and philosophy criteria, should his head be turned following the Paratici controversy.

Les Reed
Les Reed is a name that Fulham fans may recognise, having worked under Lawrie Sanchez as a coach, before becoming the club's Director of Football in 2007. It was Les Reed who signed Danny Murphy, Diomansy Kamara, Brede Hangeland, Steven Davies, Chris Baird, Aaron Hughes, Paul Konchesky and Chris Smalling, among others. However, Reed's football career contains experience at every level from the conference to the national team.

Reed started his career by winning the double with non-league Wealdstone in 1985, before becoming the FA's development officer, where he worked with the likes of Joe Cole, Sol Campbell and Michael Owen over a period of nine years. He left the FA for Charlton Athletic to become Assistant Manager to Alan Curbishley, who himself would later become Fulham's rather unsuccessful Technical Director, coach and caretaker manager later down the line. Les rejoined the England set up in 1998 as one of Kevin Keegan's coaching team, before becoming the Technical Director in 2002.

Reed would return to Charlton in 2006 as an assistant, after being sacked by the FA in 2004. However, after a matter of months, he was promoted to the role of Manager for an infamously terrible six-week period. It was then when he joined Fulham. In 2010, Reed was appointed as Southampton's Head of Football Development and Support, later becoming Vice-Chairman. He oversaw the incredibly successful academy and scouting and recruitment departments, as well as other medical and commercial areas.

In 2018, Reed returned once again to the England set-up as the Technical Director. However, he has recently left that post to assume a place on Wrexham's board in an advisory role for the Welsh side's new Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds. Whether a recruitment role back on the banks of the Thames could tempt Reed is unknown, however, his wealth of experience could certainly aid Tony Khan.

Eduardo Macia
Eduardo Macia is one of the most important names in football who you have probably never heard of. He started his career with Valencia, spending more than two decades at the club (dates and details are hazy) as an advisor and executive assistant. He later became their Sporting Director between 2004 and 2006, dragging the squad value from €45,000,000 to €180,000,000, with the notable signing of Edu on a Bosman.

Macia then became Liverpool's Chief Scout in 2004, where he stayed until 2010. The Spaniard contributed to the signings of Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Lucas Lieva, Javier Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani. Macia worked in a close partnership with the Academy Manager, Frank McParand, bringing in many young talents, such as Raheem Sterling, and helping to introduce them to first-team football. However, after some Hodgson-based controversy, the Spaniard left Merseyside.

After a short spell as the Technical Director of Olympiacos, Macia joined Fiorentina, originally as a scout in 2011 before becoming Technical Director in 2012. Eduardo oversaw the signing of nearly 20 players in his first season, rebuilding the Viola's squad, with the signings of Juan Cuadrado, Gonzalo Rodrigues, Stefan Savic, Guiseppe Rossi and Alberto Aquilani helping Fiorentina to Europa League football. Macia helped the Italian side to repeat this feat the next year, with the signings of Joaquin, Josip Ilicic and Mario Gomez. In 2015, Macia joined Betis, helping the team to promotion to the first division despite their economic troubles, and building a talented side with the purchases of Joaquin, German Pezzela and Petros.

In 2016, Macia became Leicester City's Head of Scouting and Recruitment, in a bid for the Foxes to cement their place towards the top of the table after their Premier League title-winning season. In his three seasons in the midlands, Macia oversaw the signing of a Wilfred Ndidi, Harry Maguire, Kelechi Iheanacho, James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira, Jonny Evans and Caglar Soyuncu, helping Leicester to become a regular top six side. After leaving the Foxes, Macia had a short spell as a scout at Bordeaux, however, he is currently unemployed and ripe for picking as a Director of Scouting.

It remains to be seen who's applied and who the club will ultimately opt for, but each of these five men could certainly help us build a more sustainable and successful side for the future, given the chance.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-06-15-five-suggestions-for-the-director-of-scouting-role/

WhiteJC

Aleksandar Mitrovic edging towards Fulham exit

Fulham centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic is edging closer to a move away from Craven Cottage this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by Football League World, who claim that the 26-year-old looks likely to push for a summer exit from the Championship club should Scott Parker remain in charge of the Cottagers ahead of next season.

It is reported that the Serbia international could begin to consider offers from European clubs in the coming weeks as a direct result of his poor relationship with the 40-year-old Fulham manager.

While Mitrovic undeniably struggled to find the back of the net in the Premier League last season, the £14.4m-rated man's history of goalscoring in the Championship should be enough to make Parker attempt to set his differences with the centre-forward aside.

Indeed, over his 27 top-flight appearances for Fulham last term, only 13 of which came as starts, the 26-year-old scored three goals, registered three assists and created four big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 2.2 shots and making 0.9 key passes per game.

However, despite his distinct lack of goals, Mitrovic nevertheless earned an impressive seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.93, ranking him as Parker's joint seventh-best performer in the top flight of English football.

Furthermore, in the Cottagers' promotion-winning campaign in the season prior, the £63k-per-week forward bagged 26 goals, provided two assists and created six big chances over his 40 Championship appearances, in addition to taking an average of 3.8 shots and making 1.1 key passes per game.

These returns saw the striker earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.17 that season, enough to rank him as Fulham's best player in the second tier, playing a huge role in securing the return of Premier League football to Craven Cottage.

As such, with the west London side undoubtedly hoping for an immediate return to the top flight once again in their upcoming campaign, retaining the services of the man Parker previously dubbed "relentless" would very much appear to boost the club's chances of going on to achieve this feat, leading us to believe that allowing the 26-year-old to leave this summer would be something of a mistake by the Fulham boss.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/fulham-transfer-news-scott-parker-aleksandar-mitrovic-craven-cottage-the-championship


WhiteJC


Scott Parker to leave Fulham this week with Bournemouth his likely destination

Parker was unable to prevent club making a swift return to the Championship and it is understood there has been friction with the hierarchy

Scott Parker is set to leave Fulham later this week, with Bournemouth lining up a move to appoint him as their new manager.

Parker's two-year reign at Craven Cottage is coming to an end following the club's relegation from the Premier League last month.

A former Fulham player, Parker was unable to prevent the club from making a swift return to the Championship and it is understood there has been friction with the hierarchy over their plans for the future.

The 40 year-old has been in talks over his position and negotiations are expected to accelerate over the next few days before his departure is confirmed, possibly by mutual consent.

Bournemouth are poised to offer Parker a quick return to management as they prepare for another season in the Championship.

After losing in this season's play-off semi-final to Brentford, Bournemouth want a manager with promotion experience to replace Jonathan Woodgate.

Parker guided Fulham to promotion in his first full season, via the play-off final at Wembley, and is Bournemouth's No 1 target to take charge.

Woodgate was appointed interim manager after the dismissal of Jason Tindall in February this year, but despite securing a top-six finish his team lost over two legs to eventual play-off winners Brentford.

Bournemouth are set for a busy summer, with a number of players likely to be targeted by Premier League clubs after the club's failure to achieve promotion.

David Brooks, the Wales international, and Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma both have interest from the top flight, and Parker may have to undertake extensive surgery on his squad if he takes the job.

Parker was appointed by Fulham in February 2019, initially as caretaker manager, before being given the job permanently later in the year.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2021/06/15/scott-parker-leave-fulham-week-bournemouth-likely-destination/

WhiteJC

Scott Parker ready to walk away from Fulham THIS WEEK as Bournemouth prepare to make a move for the former England international to replace out-of-contract Jonathan Woodgate

    Scott Parker has not committed his future to Fulham after their relegation
    Sportsmail understands there is a growing expectation the two will part ways
    Bournemouth are believed to hold a keen interest in making him their manager 

Scott Parker's future at Fulham is under major doubt as Bournemouth prepare to launch a move to appoint the former England midfielder as their new manager.

Sportsmail understands there is growing expectation at Craven Cottage that Parker will leave the club in the coming days.

That would pave the way for Bournemouth to make their move to appoint Parker, who is their No 1 managerial target.


Scott Parker looks increasingly likely to leave his role at Fulham after their top-flight relegation

The situation is expected to accelerate in the next few days.

Sources claim a deal for Parker to join the Cherries would be a formality, though the club are waiting on his exit from Fulham before formalising their interest.

Jonathan Woodgate has yet to formally leave his role as head coach at Bournemouth but had only signed a deal until the end of the season to become the club's interim head coach.

He failed to take them back up to the Premier League at the first time of asking after taking over in February, losing to eventual play-off winners Brentford in the semi-finals.


Jonathan Woodgate's departure has yet to be announced, but he is not expected to stay on



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9688033/Scott-Parker-ready-walk-away-Fulham-Bournemouth-prepare-make-move.html

WhiteJC

Meet All Elite Wrestling's Tony Khan, The Next Lord Of The Ring

With AEW, the 38-year-old CEO has built the first real threat to Vince McMahon's WWE in more than two decades. Inside the billionaire vs. billionaire smackdown.

With his arms crossed against a black Jacksonville Jaguars polo shirt and his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, Tony Khan wore a mischievous but hardly intimidating grin in a recent promo video for his All Elite Wrestling. Khan was responding to reports that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), his nascent company's chief competitor, is in talks to partner with New Japan Pro Wrestling, a move that would muscle in on AEW's relationship with the smaller promotion. It provided a convenient excuse for Khan to launch an attack on WWE's new president and chief revenue officer, Nick Khan (no relation), and grab attention in the leadup to AEW's weekly Dynamite on TNT and its May 30 Double or Nothing pay-per-view event.

"There's only room for one Khan in the wrestling business," AEW's 38-year-old founder and CEO sneered in the clip. "It's me, Tony Khan, not some con man from Connecticut."

The pro wrestling business, of course, was built on such mock machismo, but Khan has shied away from actively trash talking the competition since launching AEW in 2019. Perhaps because of his babyface personality, his tone in the video came across as more tongue in cheek than piledriver. And Khan would be wise not to gloat too early. After two years of modest growth, AEW is still experiencing early growing pains while trying to avoid the grim fate of everyone else who has dared to challenge Vince McMahon's WWE over the past four decades—but he has already made a big impact on professional wrestling.

Khan started AEW with a major investment from his father, billionaire Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, that was reported to be up to $100 million. Its first three months on TNT were successful enough to secure a four-year, $175 million deal with WarnerMedia to air Wednesday night Dynamite, a title he picked a quarter-century ago when he sketched out episodes in his junior high notebook. The two-hour program has shaken pro wrestling's power structure by going head-to-head with—and beating—McMahon's WWE, and AEW will be launching a new weekly show on Fridays in August.

"I don't want to be the next 'blank' wrestling company of the past—fill in the blank," Khan says of erstwhile promotions McMahon has vanquished over the years. "We love wrestling of the past, wrestling of the present and wrestling of the future... That's what gives us a great chance to retain and gain audience share."

A skinny stats geek who operates more with a smile than a scowl, Khan has shown little intention of crushing McMahon with a metaphorical steel chair, but his passion for wrestling runs deep. As a teen, growing up in Champaign, Illinois, he moderated internet wrestling message boards and was known to wear "Macho Man" Randy Savage costumes for Halloween—well into adulthood. All the while, he was waiting for the chance to reimagine the Spandex-addicted entertainment he loved.

Perhaps fatefully, Khan was born in 1982, the same year McMahon bought out his father's stake in what was then called the World Wrestling Federation. Pro wrestling was essentially a regional business back then, and promotions largely respected each other's boundaries.

But McMahon, whose Stamford, Connecticut-based company controlled the Northeast, smashed that gentlemen's agreement, intent on becoming a national and eventually global draw. He put the WWF on the USA Network and ruthlessly poached talent like Jesse Ventura, Roddy Piper and, most famously, Hulk Hogan from other territories. By the 1990s, the last serious competitor was billionaire Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling, which trounced the WWF's ratings in the "Monday Night Wars" for years. But WCW's advantage had slipped by the turn of the millennium, and when AOL acquired Time Warner in 2000, it discarded the underperforming wrestling business. McMahon gobbled it up for a mere $4.3 million in 2001 and was finally the undisputed champion, effectively running a wrestling monopoly ever since.

In 2000, some 20 million viewers tuned in to watch the WWF's programming every week. Although WWE—which changed its name in 2002 after a World Wildlife Fund lawsuit—makes more money now thanks to exorbitant TV rights fees and on-demand content, its weekly TV viewership averaged less than 5 million last year, according to Showbuzz Daily.

"I'm glad that WCW failed because it created a vacancy for us to come in and succeed," Khan says, "but it made it a fairly bleak period for the wrestling business."

Khan watched and learned from each wrestling operation McMahon conquered, and his father encouraged the passion, even if he didn't quite understand it. Shahid Khan's first investment in his son's obsession was a father-son trip to a grungy Philadelphia arena in August 1996 for a night of Extreme Championship Wrestling, a hardcore promotion that WWE absorbed seven years later. It was 13-year-old Khan's reward for agreeing to take the entrance exam and enroll in the University of Illinois Laboratory High School.

"My dad couldn't believe what he was seeing," Khan says. "He was like, 'This is a mix between an underground rock show and a cult.'"

Khan kept watching WWE while he attended the University of Illinois and then worked at a biofuels company, biding his time as his father pursued his own dream of NFL ownership. When Shahid Khan bought the Jaguars in 2012, he entrusted Tony to start the franchise's analytics department and gave him a similar role with his English soccer club Fulham in 2015.

By 2018, Khan knew that former WWE stars like Chris Jericho and Cody Rhodes would be free agents by the end of the year and saw a chance to pounce. All he needed was tens of millions of dollars to hire wrestlers and lay the groundwork for AEW. Shahid Khan, a Pakistani immigrant and self-made auto parts entrepreneur who has an estimated $8 billion fortune, reluctantly acquiesced.

"I absolutely didn't think this was a good idea," the elder Khan says. "But I told Tony, 'Look, when I'm dead and gone, I'm going to be leaving you and your sister a lot of money. Why don't you blow some of that while I'm alive?'"

Rhodes, who spent nine years with WWE before leaving in 2016, first met Tony Khan at a Jaguars game in the fall of 2018. The son of the late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, he was used to hearing naïve dreams of new wrestling promotions, but this was his first time being pitched in the owner's suite of an NFL stadium. Khan then flew an associate to Japan, where Rhodes was working with New Japan Pro Wrestling at the time, to finalize his contract, and promised a check would be in the mail the next day if he signed. It was.

"It's really special to see how commanding he is without being demanding," says Rhodes, who is one of AEW's executive vice presidents. "Wrestlers are all talk. He's all walk."

With enough name talent lined up—including WWE's former announcer and talent executive Jim Ross—Khan had a product to sell, and four months after AEW's New Year's Day 2019 launch, he finalized a trial deal with WarnerMedia to air the broadcast on TNT. Dynamite premiered on October 2, 2019, and the two sides agreed to the $175 million extension in January 2020, taking the show through the end of 2023 and including plans for a third hour of weekly content. That expansion was put on hold by the pandemic, but on May 19, AEW announced that Rampage will premiere on August 13 and air every Friday at 10 p.m., immediately after WWE's Smackdown ends on Fox. Both Dynamite and Rampage will move to TBS in January 2022, and four additional specials will air annually on TNT.

"It was very clear we put ourselves in the right hands," says Brett Weitz, general manager of TNT, TBS and truTV. "For someone to have the audacity to say, 'I'm going to go take on the biggest wrestling league in the world and see if I can be a challenger brand,' it takes chutzpah. And he nailed it."

The $43.75 million AEW received from TNT last year made up the largest share of its revenue, but that's a rounding error compared to publicly traded WWE's record $974 million in revenue in 2020. Still, AEW's pay-per-view numbers and ticket sales are growing, and the new show will add to its coffers. Khan expects its wrestling division to be profitable this year, though an eight-figure investment in video game development will keep the company in the red for now.

As with most of his competition, Vince McMahon didn't seem threatened by AEW at first. On a July 2019 conference call with analysts, he said he couldn't imagine TNT would put up with "blood and guts and gory things," without referring to his newest competitor by name. In a promo leading up to Dynamite's debut, Rhodes suggested the remarks disparaged wrestlers' passion and responded, "if you say we are blood and guts, I say you bet your ass we're blood and guts." AEW has since trademarked the phrase and even aired a "Blood & Guts" episode of Dynamite on May 5.

WWE's first counterattack failed miserably. It moved the popular NXT franchise from the premium WWE Network to USA Network in the fall of 2019, but after losing the Wednesday ratings battle, NXT retreated to Tuesdays in April 2021. Since then, Dynamite has averaged almost 1 million viewers—or about half of what WWE gets for its flagship Monday night show, Raw.

While WWE revolves around "Mr. McMahon"—the cartoonish character McMahon portrays in the ring—Khan stays off camera, aside from the occasional social media promo. Rhodes says AEW doesn't have a writers' room like WWE and claims its in-ring promos are unscripted, an approach that's resonating with new fans. Two years in, 54% of its viewers are under 50, larger than that share of the audience for WWE's Raw, NXT and Smackdown.

"It's not written as if it's a soap opera," says Rhodes. "Tony hired some of the best wrestlers in the world and he doesn't change who they are."

But if WWE lost the Wednesday night battle, it's still winning the war. In 2020, McMahon signed a deal to move its library of content from the WWE Network to NBC's Peacock streaming service, and WWE holds at least one pay-per-view every month, compared with AEW's quarterly events. Its flagship WrestleMania showcase fills a football stadium every spring.

WWE is coming out of the pandemic much leaner, though. The company released more than 20 of its roughly 200 wrestlers this spring—some of whom were signed by AEW—and the budget cuts have prompted speculation that the 75-year-old McMahon is setting the company up for a sale.

AEW, by comparison, operates in the shadow of the Jaguars' TIAA Bank Field at Daily's Place, the 5,500-seat amphitheater attached to the stadium where it has held Dynamite throughout the pandemic. It will resume taking the show on the road in July to Miami, Dallas and Austin, Texas.

And while McMahon loves talking smack in and out of the ring—he famously got his head shaved after losing the Battle of the Billionaires to Donald Trump in 2007—Khan lets his wrestlers do the fighting. He would rather recreate the heyday of the Monday Night Wars than have a sleeper hold on wrestling as McMahon has for two decades. As Khan sees it, if AEW's fans and TNT are satisfied, he isn't worried about WWE.

"There's no reason why there only needs to be one wrestling company," Khan says, contradicting the act he put on in the AEW promo. "The wrestling business is hotter now than it's been in a long time."



https://www.forbes.com/sites/hanktucker/2021/06/15/all-elite-wrestling-tony-khan-interview-aew-next-lord-of-the-ring-cody-rhodes-vince-mcmahon/?sh=404fc9734170


WhiteJC

Major news emerges regarding Scott Parker's future at Fulham

Scott Parker is set to leave Fulham this week with a move to Bournemouth on the cards, according to the Telegraph.

Parker took charge of Fulham in February 2019, guiding them to an immediate return to the top-flight in 2019/20 as they won promotion via the Championship play-offs.

But last season, the London club finished 18th in the Premier League and were relegated straight back down to the Championship, leaving Parker's future in doubt.

The Telegraph claim that Parker, who has been in talks over his position at Craven Cottage, is expected to leave the club in the next few days.

Parker's relationship with the board is also said to be quite fractious due to the club's plans for the future, which could now lead to his exit.

AFC Bournemouth, who are on the lookout for a new manager following the expiry of Jonathan Woodgate's contract, are also ready to offer the 40-year-old a quick return to management.

The Cherries fell short in the race for promotion from the Championship last season, losing to eventual winners Brentford in the play-off semi-finals.

The Verdict

This is a significant piece of news.

Parker took over when Fulham were heading straight back down to the Championship, but he managed expectations well and took them straight back up in 2019/20.

But last season didn't work out for him despite glimpses of potential, and he could now do with a fresh start.

It's a big job at Bournemouth if he makes the move to the South Coast, especially with the likes of David Brooks and Arnaut Danjuma likely to attract interest.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/major-news-emerges-regarding-scott-parkers-future-at-fulham/

WhiteJC

AFC Bournemouth managerial update emerges after major Scott Parker news at Fulham

AFC Bournemouth still have 'legwork' to do if they are to appoint Scott Parker as their new manager, as his Fulham exit begins to look a forgone conclusion.

As per John Percy, Parker is leaving Fulham ahead of their return to the Championship, with Bournemouth keen to appoint the former England international as Jonathan Woodgate's successor.

However, despite the fact that Parker looks set for a Fulham exit, there's work to do if Bournemouth are to appoint him as their next manager.

According to talkSPORT's Alex Crook, there's legwork to do, although there's a willingness from both the club and Parker to get an agreement in place ahead of 2021/22.

Parker won promotion to the Premier League with Fulham in 2019/20, with his side overturning Brentford in the play-off final at Wembley.

Despite shades of adapting really well to life back in the top-flight, Fulham were relegated last season alongside Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are on the lookout for Jason Tindall's permanent successor after Woodgate oversaw the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Woodgate led Bournemouth into the play-offs, but he was unable to lead the Cherries to Wembley and give them a 90 minute shot of promotion at the first time of asking. They were beaten by Brentford in the semi-finals and are now gearing up for a second year in the Championship.

The Verdict

Given Parker is only just leaving Fulham, it makes sense that there is still work to do in terms of him getting the Bournemouth job.

However, the important thing here is the fact that there is willingness from Parker and Bournemouth to strike an agreement.

It's a good opportunity for Parker to get straight back into management and embark on a fresh challenge, albeit with the same goal of promotion.

This is likely to be something to keep an eye on in the coming days and weeks.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/afc-bournemouth-managerial-update-emerges-after-major-scott-parker-news-at-fulham/

WhiteJC

Parker 'to leave Fulham this week'

Scott Parker is poised 'to leave Fulham this week,' according to a Telegraph report from this morning.

The Fulham manager, who has been repeatedly linked with the job at Bournemouth this summer, was unable to keep the Whites in the Premier League last season and the Telegraph report cites ongoing 'friction' between Parker and the club's hierarchy. Negotiations between Fulham officials and the 40 year-old are ongoing, but a departure is now considered likely.

Bournemouth are monitoring the situation closely with Parker rumoured to be their first choice to succeed Jonathan Woodgate at Dean Court.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2021/06/parker-to-leave-fulham-this-week/


WhiteJC

NHS Thank You Tournament

On Saturday, Motspur Park welcomed nine teams consisting of local NHS staff to a friendly 'thank you' tournament recognising their efforts in keeping our community safe during the COVID pandemic.

Sides representing Kingston NHS Foundation Trust, Moorfield Eye Hospital, South London and Maudsley, Chelsea & Westminster NHS Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust enjoyed a sunny day of rather competitive football at Fulham FC's training ground.

After a keenly contested group stage and two nail-biting semi-finals the day concluded with Chelsea & Westminster Radiology defeating South London and Maudsley in a tense final that required a penalty shoot out to separate the two teams. Chelsea & Westminster Radiology were presented with medals and brand new Fulham FC kits, having earned the right to compete at a London-wide competition at Gunnersbury Park on the 26th of June.

Fulham's tournament was part of a wider initiative by London United, with 14 of London's professional football clubs collaborating to recognise our local health services and their tremendous work during these unprecedented times.

Fulham FC Foundation CEO Mike McSweeney echoed the thoughts of everyone at the Club saying: "It was fantastic to welcome nearly 100 NHS staff to Motspur Park on Saturday as a small token of our appreciation.

"I hope the players were able to relax, enjoy themselves and get an opportunity to spend time with colleagues in a fun and social setting. Good luck to Chelsea & Westminster Radiology who will be representing us on finals day."

Fulham FC Foundation Health Development Officer Laura Everton said it was the least Fulham could do for our NHS heroes: "It is almost unbelievable the effort they have put in over the last 16 months of the pandemic, working non-stop to keep the country safe.

"Our small part is just to provide a little bit of respite and to thank them for everything they have done and continue to do.

"We're always keen to work closely with our local NHS partners, so being able to invite them here to Fulham FC's Training Ground for a day of football was something special."

To find out more about the work Fulham FC Foundation do in supporting the health and wellbeing of our local community please contact Laura via [email protected] or visit the Fulham FC Foundation Impact Dashboard.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2021/june/NHS-Thank-You-Tournament/

WhiteJC

3 realistic Scott Parker replacements Fulham need to consider as news emerges

Fulham manager Scott Parker is set to depart Craven Cottage this week, according to the Telegraph.

The Cottagers are preparing for life back in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League last season, a year on from their play-off final win at Wembley.

But the club are set to lose their manager, with Parker reportedly in talks to leave Craven Cottage after a breakdown in relationship with the board.

Parker, who took over in February 2019, has since won 37 of his 105 games in charge of Fulham, guiding the club to promotion in 2019/20.

But AFC Bournemouth are ready to offer Parker a quick route back into management, as the Cherries look to find a replacement for Jonathan Woodgate.

Here, we take a look at three replacements Fulham need to consider as Parker prepares to bring an end to his tenure at Craven Cottage...

Chris Wilder
Wilder remains on the lookout for a new job after his controversial exit from Sheffield United last season.

Wilder guided the Blades from League One to the Premier League in only three years, leading to them a ninth place finish in the top-flight 2019/20.

Ultimately, a poor summer of recruitment led to their downfall and his departure in March.

But the job the 53-year-old did was nothing short of remarkable, and he won 106 of his 227 games in charge of the Blades.

West Brom's hierarchy have sounded out Wilder as a contender to replace Sam Allardyce, but the club's owner is against the idea of a move for him due to his relationship with Sheffield United's board.

Fulham should consider pouncing.

Eddie Howe
Howe looked to be a main contender for the Celtic job, before Ange Postecoglou was appointed this week.

It means that Howe remains on the lookout for a new job, having left AFC Bournemouth at the end of the 2019/20.

Similarly to Wilder, Howe oversaw Bournemouth's rise up the leagues, and did a superb job in keeping them in the Premier League for so long.

Relegation ultimately came around, but there can be no denying Howe's ability as a coach.

It would be a coup to lure him back down to the Championship, but the prospect of winning promotion could be attractive for him.

Valerien Ismael
Ismael has caught the eye in English football this season after taking the reins at Oakwell and steering Barnsley to a play-off semi-final finish.

The Frenchman has attracted interest from Crystal Palace after installing an excellent, attacking brand of football at Oakwell, and has established himself as one of the best coaches in the Championship.

It would be a coup to lure him away from Barnsley, especially with Fulham now in the same league as the Tykes.

But Fulham have a number of talented attacking players at the club, and they could all thrive under Ismael's tutelage if he made the move to Craven Cottage.

It would be a real statement of intent to bring him in.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-realistic-scott-parker-replacements-fulham-need-to-consider-as-news-emerges/

WhiteJC

Scott Parker wanted by Bournemouth as Fulham exit looms for manager

Spell at Fulham close to ending amid disagreement with board

Bournemouth make Parker No 1 target with eye on promotion

Bournemouth are lining up a move to appoint Scott Parker, who is close to leaving his post as Fulham's manager.

Parker's two-year spell at Fulham is expected to end following relegation from the Premier League and Bournemouth have placed the 40-year-old top of their shortlist as they search for a manager.

The former England midfielder's future at Craven Cottage has been in doubt since the end of the season. Parker, initially appointed by Fulham on a caretaker basis in February 2019, has not seen eye to eye with Fulham's board over their plans for the future and it is understood that he is interested in taking over at the Vitality Stadium.

It is unlikely that Bournemouth will find it hard to complete a deal with Parker, who built a good reputation during his time at Fulham. The south-coast club will wait before Parker's departure from Fulham is confirmed before formalising their interest.

Bournemouth, relegated from the Premier League in 2020, are preparing for another season in the Championship after failing to make it through the play-offs. They made Jonathan Woodgate their head coach on an interim basis until the end of the season after sacking Jason Tindall in February. Woodgate has yet to leave his role but Bournemouth want Parker to lead a promotion push.

Although Parker could not stop the Fulham from falling out of the Premier League in 2019, he secured promotion via the play-offs during his first full season.

Fulham's second relegation in three years will not deter Bournemouth from pursuing Parker. Their view is that he did a good job in difficult circumstances. Although Fulham lacked enough quality to stay in the Premier League, they often played enterprising football.

Gary O'Neil, the former Portsmouth midfielder who is now Bournemouth's first-team coach, is highly rated at the club and expected to stay following any reshuffle.



https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/15/scott-parker-wanted-by-bournemouth-as-fulham-exit-looms-for-manager


WhiteJC

Exclusive: 55-year-old emerges as contender to replace Scott Parker at Fulham

Fulham could turn to Javier Pereira as they face up to losing manager, Scott Parker, a source has exclusively revealed to Football League World.

On the back of relegation from the Premier League, Fulham are looking set to lose Parker. A report from The Telegraph this morning confirmed he was likely to be on the way out of Craven Cottage, with Bournemouth his suggested destination as he searches for a fresh start.

A source has since revealed to Football League World that the Cottagers are considering Pereira as an option to come in and replace Parker, with the club searching for a quick appointment.

The 55-year-old is the current manager of Henan Jianye, but he has a previous connection with Fulham having served as Slavisa Jokanovic's assistant between 2015 and 2018, whilst also taking on the role of Assistant Director of Football Operations back in the winter of 2020.

During that time, Pereira helped support Jokanovic deliver a promotion via the Championship play-offs, with Tom Cairney's winning goal at Wembley securing victory for Fulham in the 2017/18 final.

Pereira also worked with Jokanovic at Watford prior to moving to West London, but has since taken on the job with Henan Jianye in the Chinese Super League.

His most previous role with Fulham, as Assistant Director of Football Operations, saw him work closely with Tony Khan. He's now under consideration for the top job at Craven Cottage, as the club look to react quickly to Parker's pending departure.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/exclusive-55-year-old-emerges-as-contender-to-replace-scott-parker-at-fulham/

WhiteJC

Worrying obstacle emerges for Scott Parker as AFC Bournemouth eye appointment

AFC Bournemouth could well oversee 'extensive surgery' on their playing squad this summer as they adapt to life back in the Championship.

The Cherries managed to carry a good chunk of their Premier League squad into the Championship last season, but failure to win promotion at the first time of asking leaves them vulnerable this summer.

Scott Parker has been touted as the man set to come in and replace Jonathan Woodgate as the club's manager this summer, but the Telegraph detail how the soon-to-be ex-Fulham boss will have to deal with high-profile exits from the Bournemouth squad.

Amongst those that could well headline the list of departures are David Brooks and Arnaut Danjuma. The report reads: "David Brooks, the Wales international, and Dutch winger Arnaut Danjuma both have interest from the top flight, and Parker may have to undertake extensive surgery on his squad if he takes the job."

Brooks, 23, is currently away with Wales at Euro 2020. He scored five goals and registered seven assists last season in the Championship and has previously shown his quality in the top-flight with the Cherries.

Danjuma, meanwhile, was Bournemouth's driving force in the play-offs last season. He scored twice across two legs in the defeat to Brentford, taking his tally to 17 goals and seven assists for the campaign.

Previously, Football League World have reported that there is a host of Premier League interest in Danjuma from the likes of Everton and Wolves.

The Verdict

This was inevitable really.

Bournemouth did well to retain Brooks last season on the back of relegation, whilst it will be a similar feat if they can fend off interest in Danjuma this summer given his form in 2020/21.

Both are Premier League players and Bournemouth can't stand in their way if they want to move on this summer.

If Parker gets the Bournemouth job, as is being widely reported, he will have a task on his hands ensuring the side are competitive if these sales materialise.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/worrying-obstacle-emerges-for-scott-parker-as-afc-bournemouth-eye-appointment/

WhiteJC

So long, Scott – this is best for everyone
Charles has his say on why Scott Parker's departure isn't necessarily the worst news.


We're more than a month on from Fulham's relegation being confirmed, and it's fair to say that things are a bit of a shambles at Craven Cottage right now.

It's no secret that Tony Khan has shied away from publicly addressing the fact this season was an abject failure, while Scott Parker has reportedly rubbed the chiefs at Craven Cottage up the wrong way with his comments about a lack of communication from the top.

Links to Bournemouth won't go away amid of reports of unrest between the boss and the ownership, and now it looks like Parker will be gone by the end of the week. While losing your manager to another club is never ideal, there are a few reasons why Parker packing his bags may not be the worst thing in the world.

Our form
Dreadful is the only word you can use to describe Fulham's end to the season.

Everyone thought that there would be a new life breathed into this side after our incredible win against Liverpool, but that would prove to be our last victory in the Premier League, picking up just two points from a possible 30 in our final 10 games.

Rightly or wrongly, Parker largely escaped criticism for our poor start to the campaign, but our torrid run and lack of fight towards the end of the season was inexcusable.

The reality is that picking up two points from a possible 30 would be a sackable offence at most clubs at any point, but going through such a run when you're supposedly fighting for your Premier League life is indefensible.

Our style
If Parker is to go he'll best be remembered for our 2019/20 promotion campaign, and while that season had the happiest of happy endings, let's not forget how much of a slog it was to get to that point.

Parker's pragmatic approach was effective at times, and it paid off in the end, but far too often we relied on a piece of individual brilliance to pull us out of the fire rather than setting up in a way that would see us dominate games.

We hate to bang this drum, but look at the difference in style between our promotion-winning team and that of Leeds. On paper, we probably should have walked the Championship, but in reality, we limped over the line.

Mitrovic's goals, Kebano's free-kicks and even Joe Bryan's brilliance in the play-off final. Moments of magic saved our skins on numerous occasions.

The problem is, when those moments alluded us, we fell flat – perhaps that's why we only scored nine goals at home all season this time around.

Our potential
If Parker is to jump ship and head to the south coast, there may not be a better time for him to go than right now.

The managerial merry-go-round is arguably the craziest it's ever been, and there are so many top-class, genuinely attainable managers on the market at the moment.

The likes of Chris Wilder, Eddie Howe, Vincenzo Montella and even Roy Hodgson are all out of work at the moment, and as detailed on Fulhamish late last month, there are plenty of other candidates that could act as upgrades on Parker.

If Parker stays, it's hard to make an argument for him being the best manager in the Championship. After all, he has two relegations on his CV and a promotion that was less-than-convincing, while any of the above could come in and immediately be considered the best of the bunch.

It's not insane to suggest we could be even more ambitious than that. Let's not forget that before Parker came in we appointed Claudio Ranieri, who was voted as the best men's coach in the world only two years prior, while before appointing the Italian we audaciously asked Arsene Wenger to take the reins.

Of course, someone like Wenger isn't going to come and manage in the Championship, but with the right project, investment and vision the likes of Nuno Espirito Santo, Andre Villas-Boas or Rafa Benitez could be persuaded, and this is a chance to make a real blockbuster appointment that could set us up for years to come.

All good things must come to an end – as must all mixed things. This is one of the latter. And I for one am excited to see what's next.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2021-06-15-so-long-scott-this-is-best-for-everyone/


WhiteJC

Luton Town confirm signing of 22-y/o previously linked with Fulham, Millwall

Luton Town have today completed the signing of Allan Campbell from Motherwell, confirms the club.

Campbell joins the Hatters for an undisclosed fee from Scottish side Motherwell on a permanent deal, subject to international clearance.

The 22-year-old becomes Nathan Jones' third signing so far of the summer window having already acquired the likes of Reece Burke from Hull City and Fred Onyedinma from Wycombe Wanderers.

Jones is looking to build a team capable of pushing on and improving on their mid-table position but safety will be the first concern on his mind.

Campbell joins from Motherwell where he has spent his whole career so far after joining their academy at the age of 10.

He turned out 159 times for the Scottish club, scoring 16 goals in that period but now goes to a new challenge a Kenilworth Road to compete in one of the most competitive leagues around.

The midfielder is also a Scotland U21 international, representing his country on 24 occasions, and will be hoping his move to Luton can help to ignite his career in the Scotland first team with similar moves helping the likes of John McGinn and Kenny McLean who are now regulars in the squad.
Thoughts?

This could well work out to be a great move for both Campbell and Luton. The 22-year-old will get the chance to test himself against different types of opposition which can help to mold him into a more well-rounded player.

The move south of the border could also improve his chances of eventually playing in the Premier League with top sides always looking to improve their squads with players from the EFL.

For Luton, this is a player that will improve their squad drastically, he has impressed with Motherwell and will no doubt gives Jones a different dynamic and option in midfield.

Campbell could well find his feet early and hit the ground running should he be given the chance.



https://the72.co.uk/239200/luton-town-confirm-signing-of-22-y-o-previously-linked-with-fulham-millwall/

WhiteJC

'Lampard would be an obvious shout' – Scott Parker set for Fulham exit – who should replace him? The verdict

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more

Scott Parker is set to leave Fulham this week, according to the Telegraph.


The 40-year-old is said to be in talks to bring his tenure at Craven Cottage to an end, following relegation from the Premier League last season.

Parker guided Fulham to promotion from the Championship in 2019/20, and has won 37 out of 105 games in charge since taking the reins in February 2019.

According to the Telegraph, Parker is set to depart Fulham in the next few days, with AFC Bournemouth ready to offer him a quick route back into management.

Here, we discuss who would be the perfect replacement for Parker, as his departure from Craven Cottage edges closer...

Ben Wignall

Fulham have tried all kinds of different managers in recent years – experienced ones like Claudio Ranieri, potentially exciting ones such as Slavisa Jokanovic and the untested – see Scott Parker – so it's hard to say which route they should go down.

What the Cottagers do have though is money and they could perhaps entice someone who may have their eye on a Premier League job to step down to the Championship.

Frank Lampard would be an obvious shout – Fulham and Chelsea are rivals but there's not a mass hatred there and Lampard would probably relish trying to get a team into the top flight.

Eddie Howe will probably be waiting for a Premier League job so he can perhaps be forgotten about, whilst former Everton boss Marco Silva could be a wildcard shout.

However the ideal candidate is surely Chris Wilder, who looked set for West Brom until their owner got involved and vetoed the deal.

Wilder has promotion experience with Sheffield United and he would probably jump at the chance if offered the role at Craven Cottage – providing the Khans give him some transfer funds.

Phil Spencer

It seems that Scott Parker is set to move on but thankfully there are some great options out there at the moment.
Personally, I don't think that they can look past Chris Wilder.

The former Sheffield United boss built the Blades up from nothing and saw them promoted to the Premier League by forging a strong culture within the club.

Players truly bought into Wilder's philosophies and while the Blades were hugely effective under him, they were also very entertaining.

Fulham supporters love an entertaining brand of football and under Wilder they'd have a boss who could provide that while also bringing the steel needed to grind out results when the going gets tough.

Frankly I'm surprised that Wilder is still on the market and Fulham should do everything possible to get him into Craven Cottage.

Toby Wilding

They've surely got to be looking at Eddie Howe or Chris Wilder in my opinion.

Both of those managers have a proven record in picking clubs up from a move difficult position than Fulham currently find themselves in and taking them to the Premier League, which will surely be the aim for the Cottagers.

Indeed, given the quality of the squad they have available, and the fact that the funds they have from parachute payments mean that Fulham ought to be among the favourites for promotion next season, which could make them one of the few teams outside the top-flight capable of attracting one of these two.

Given the profile of both Howe and Wilder, appointing one of those two would also feel like something of a statement of intent from the club, which could go some way to lifting the mood of the Fulham fanbase after such a frustrating period, meaning these two would surely be worth looking into for those calling the shots at Craven Cottage.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/lampard-would-be-an-obvious-shout-scott-parker-set-for-fulham-exit-who-should-replace-him-the-verdict/

WhiteJC

EXCLUSIVE: Scott Parker set for Fulham exit with next club already lined up

Fulham are ready to part company with Scott Parker following relegation, with a new club already lined up for the Cottagers boss, TEAMtalk understands.

We understand that the former England midfielder has clashed with the club's hierarchy at various points and it appears he could instead be heading to the south coast to take charge of Bournemouth.

Fulham are doing their due diligence in terms of potential candidates to take charge. The likes of Swansea's Steve Cooper and Barnsley's Valerien Ismael have been looked at.

Spaniard Javier Pereira, who was previously the club's sporting director, is also being considered after impressing in China.

As for the Cherries, they could be about to replace one former Tottenham star with another.

Jonathan Woodgate impressed at the Vitality Stadium but was given the remit of promotion and failed on that count. Bournemouth lost out to Brentford in the Championship play-off semi-finals.

Londoner Parker would not have a problem settling in down on the south coast. There had been reports that he was holding out to slim hopes of the Spurs job, but that was always unlikely.

Meanwhile, Tottenham-linked defender Joachim Andersen says that he wants to move back to the Premier League last season after enjoying his spell with Fulham.

The Frenchman moved to Craven Cottage from Lille in October to fill a crucial defensive hole for manager Scott Parker. Despite a shaky start, he asserted himself excellently through the course of the season. In fact, Fulham were not far off staying up, with 13 draws proving crucial in their failing to avoid the drop.

Andersen made an instant impression at Fulham; after only three matches, he took the captain's armband and consequently marshalled his team in 17 Premier League games.

He added on his quick rise: "I admit that I was surprised to be named captain shortly after my arrival.

"It's very rare and it makes me very proud. I have to thank coach Scott Parker and all the staff who immediately trusted me.

"This season we played really well, attacking and attractive football, but we sinned in the finish. I really enjoyed playing on this team. In my opinion, we did not deserve to be relegated."

Andersen's performances have seen links with a move to Tottenham emerge.

Such speculation initially came about at the end of March, but has since grown.

In fact, more recent reports claim that Spurs have initiated contact with Lyon over his transfer back to London.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/exclusive-scott-parker-fulham-exit-next-club-already-lined-up


WhiteJC

Fulham draw up three-manager shortlist as Scott Parker nears exit

Exclusive - Fulham will part ways with Scott Parker this week following a rift between the manager and the club's hierarchy, with former assistant coach Javier Pereira among the candidates to replace him.

Parker failed to keep the Cottagers in the Premier League last season with his side eventually finishing 11 points from safety. Since their relegation was confirmed the Fulham boss' relationship with the board has deteriorated, with his departure set to be announced in the coming days.

In a strange turn of events Parker is expected to take over at Fulham's soon-to-be Championship promotion rivals Bournemouth, who will not extend Jonathan Woodgate's time in the dugout on the south coast after he failed to guide the Cherries back to the Premier League having taken over in February.

There are already plans in place for Parker's succession. 90min understands that Fulham have compiled a shortlist of potential replacements, with Swansea City boss Steve Cooper and Barnsley's Valerien Ismael both being considered.

Each manager guided their unfancied teams into the playoffs last season and could be tempted by the Cottagers' superior budget. However, both have also been linked with the Crystal Palace job, which remains vacant after negotiations with Nuno Espirito Santo collapsed.

Another name on the shortlist is Pereira. The Spaniard was previously at Craven Cottage between 2015 and 2018 as Slavisa Jokanovic's assistant. During their time together the pair guided Fulham to successive top six finishes, securing promotion to the Premier League in 2018.

After Jokanovic was sacked in 2018 Pereira left as well, but he returned as assistant director of football operations - a de-facto sporting director - in January 2020. Later that year he departed again to take over Chinese Super League side Henan Jianye.

His work there has impressed Fulham and he could now be in line for a sensational return as manager. West Brom - who are also on the lookout for a new head coach following the departure of Sam Allardyce - are admirers too.



https://www.90min.com/posts/exclusive-fulham-draw-up-three-manager-shortlist-scott-parker-nears-exit

WhiteJC

Report: Figure labelled 'incredibly good' by Guardiola is set to leave Fulham; lined up for move to Bournemouth

Fulham manager Scott Parker will leave the West London outfit at the end of this week.

According to The Telegraph, he's being lined up for the vacant manager's job at AFC Bournemouth.

Parker's two year stint in charge of the Cottagers is set to come to an end after their Premier League relegation.

Fulham finished in 18th-place, nine points adrift of 17th-placed Burnley in what was a poor season.

It's being claimed that the Cherries want a manager with promotion experience. The 40-year-old has exactly that after helping Fulham win promotion back to the top-flight during the 2019/2020 term.

Jonathan Woodgate was put in temporary charge after Jason Tindall was sacked back in February. Bournemouth lost to Brentford in the Championship play-off semi-finals last month.

Pep Guardiola labelled him an 'incredibly good' manager.

TBR View: Loss of Parker as manager not a huge blow to Fulham

Previous seasons has shown that experience can play a big part in The Championship.

Whether that be in terms of the playing squad or the man in charge of the club.

Parker undertook his first season as a permanent manager during the 2019/2020 term. And his victory in the play-off final was an indictment of the strong squad Fulham possessed.

Things shouldn't be too different this time around. Losing Parker is obviously a massive blow to the club, however, the squad is extremely experienced.

Joachim Andersen has returned to Lyon, whilst Tosin Adarabioyo has been linked with a move away. So, centre-back requires some surgery this summer.

But, the midfield and attack contain the same raft of players who helped win promotion in 2020.

The return of Anthony Knockeart is a massive boost given his experience in the second-tier. Meanwhile, Aleksander Mitrovic is likely to remain, therefore providing an abundance of goals.

Parker was an important figure at Fulham ahead of next season. His departure is a blow, but, with such an experienced squad not too big of a miss.



https://tbrfootball.com/parker-fulham-manager/