Fulham sacked manager Felix Magath today, with the club sitting at the bottom of the Championship table with just one point to its name for the 2014/15 season.
The sacking has come on the back of a 5-3 loss away to Nottingham Forest. In the midweek match, the Cottagers came back from being 2-0 down to go ahead 3-2 to ultimately losing the lead again and losing in the eight goal thriller. Post match, Felix Magath labeled the season as a disaster.
“It is a catastrophe. I have never had that before in my career and I am very sorry for our fans. I ask for patience from the fans. I have no doubt we can get up the table.”
Magath said last night that he felt his own job was safe and that he had a great relationship with Shahid Khan, Fulham’s owner:
Khan clearly did not agree with the situation and sacked Magath after just eight months in charge. A statement from Khan confirms that under-21 coach Kit Symons has been appointed as Caretaker Manager, while the club will be looking for a new manager immediately.
“This is an unfortunate but necessary change,” Khan said. “I am doing what I feel is right and needed for Fulham Football Club, for today as well as tomorrow.
“I thank our supporters for standing by us during these most difficult of times on the pitch, and promise better days ahead.”
Felix Magath’s appointment came off the back of two management sackings with Martin Jol and René Meulensteen deemed not good enough, but Magath — a former Germany player — was seen as the man to keep Fulham in the Premier League and to create a future for the club. With little progress shown in the Premier League, questions were raised whether Magath was to walk away from Fulham. He decided not to and relegation followed.
After being relegated, Fulham released 16 players (including loans). And with 8 players coming in, it was never going to be easy for the team to hit the ground running. Eyes were raised when Fulham paid £11 million for Leeds United’s Ross McCormack as it was an incredible amount of money for a Championship player.
The start of the season has been awful, not winning a single game and drawing once (against Cardiff) has seen the London-based side bottom of the table. With the players Felix Magath has at his disposal it is clearly not good enough.
Chris Hughton, Tim Sherwood and Neil Lennon have been mentioned already but they will surely be looking for a Premiership club, which leaves Fulham staring at a bleak future in an unforgiving league.
