Fulham are looking for their fifth manager in the space of two years after the club decided to part with the services of Kit Symons.

Since Shahid Khan took over, the Whites have been struggling for consistency after being relegated in his first season after buying the club and struggling in the Championship last season.

The billionaire parted company with Martin Jol, whom he inherited from Mohammed Al Fayed's reign as chairman and replaced him with Rene Meulensteen.

The Dutchman had barely settled into the hot seat when it morphed into an ejector one with Felix Magath replacing him just over two months later.

The German was a flop, overseeing the final nails in the coffin of a relegation season before a disastrous start in the Championship last season which saw Symons take over.

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Khan and Fulham admitted they have made three mistakes in managerial appointments – you wouldn't sack a manager if you thought they were the right man for the job anymore.

However, it is the lack of patience shown that is surprising or, in Magath's case, giving him too much time.

Jol, who was appointed under the Al Fayed regime, lost his job after six straight defeats and only three wins in the season.

His biggest mistake and one the club are still recovering from today is the failure to refresh the squad which was aging up until their relegation from the Premier League.

Meulensteen took over and seemed to be improving matters slightly over the course of December and January, although heavy defeats to Hull and Sunderland were causes for concern.

He was backed in the January transfer window and made Kostas Mitroglou the club's record signing – the Greek appeared in a pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace in 2015 for his only Craven Cottage showing.

Meulensteen looked to be getting things right by mid-February after a draw against a one-dimensional Manchester United and a battling defeat to then title chasing Liverpool.

However, he was axed two days later and replaced by Felix Magath.

The less said about the German's reign at Fulham the better as performances took a downturn and relegation followed.

This was the chance for the Whites to make a long-term decision to rebuild the club from top to bottom and they didn't take it.

In pictures: Magath's last game in charge at Nottingham Forest

Magath's signings, with the exception of Ross McCormack, failed to impress and the Whites picked up a point from their first seven games in the Championship.

His alienation of core players, including Brede Hangeland, did him and the club no favours as, barring Scott Parker and McCormack, they lacked the necessary leadership and experience to cope with the demands of the Championship.

Symons steadied the ship, boosted morale, and guided the club to 17th place come May. Having given their rivals a two month head start pretty much that was a decent return.

However, an inconsistent start and the return of the hammerings at home has seen the Welshman leave the club.

History will probably judge him better than current feeling towards him is amongst the support. He took over at a club seemingly heading towards a second successive relegation and leaves them in mid-table.

Fans wanted a promotion challenge but, while it might not have been this season, the building blocks were in place to mount a sustained challenge in the 2016/17 season. At the end of the day, after the upheaval of 2014/15 would a solid mid-table finish not mark an improvement?

Kit Symons' record at Fulham

The axing now leaves Fulham in a quandary regarding the next step.

Do they bring in a quick-fix manager and risk long-term struggles for short-term success, someone with a long-term vision now, or do they restructure ahead of the summer of 2016 where they make a more analytical decision?

For me it is clear. They need to make a long-term decision, which was the hallmark of Al Fayed's reign, rather than another quick fix job. At this early stage of the season, there appear to be four or five teams who will pull away leaving one play-off spot up for grabs.

Looking at the Al Fayed era at Fulham, after parting company with Micky Adams soon after taking over he brought in Ray Wilkins and put Kevin Keegan above him.

After a row saw Wilkins leave, Keegan took over until he was poached by the FA to take charge of England.

Fulham forces: Al Fayed (L) and Keegan

Paul Bracewell lasted less than a season at Fulham before being sacked and replaced by Jean Tigana.

The Frenchman was sacked in 2003 after establishing the club in the Premier League and successfully took the club to court for wrongful dismissal.

Chris Coleman was in charge from 2003 to 2007 before his dismissal with the club hovering above the relegation zone.

Lawrie Sanchez was a mistake from Al Fayed whose quick-fix job didn't translate into the following season and he was sacked in December.

Roy Hodgson stepped in and oversaw the high point of Fulham's history in reaching the Europa League final before he was hired by Liverpool in 2010.

Old friends: Roy Hodgson signed Hangeland for Fulham

Mark Hughes lasted a season with the club before quitting over a lack of ambition, with Martin Jol replacing him in 2011.

In Al Fayed's 16-year association with the club, he only sacked five managers (Adams, Bracewell, Tigana, Coleman, Sanchez). In just over two years, Khan has axed four. Yes, football is more impatient than it was in Al Fayed's era but the difference is startling.

The big question for Khan to answer is: Are Fulham in need of a rebuild from top to bottom or is it more about the choice of manager? Remember, every boss has their favourites and their style so expect more personnel changes.

Of course, Watford laugh off the stability brings success claim with their revolving door policy regarding head coaches. However, the structure they work in remains the same meaning there isn't too much change.

The Whites have lurched from one philosophy to another over these two years and it is time they settled on one method and bought into that as other clubs have done, most notably Southampton and Swansea, to great success.

It might take three years to return to the Premier League doing it that way but they'd be a better club for it rather than failing to address the problems and hoping for the best.