FULHAM will take up to a month to appoint a new manager because they don’t need one in July.
Everything for pre-season fitness training that starts on Monday was in place months before Roy Hodgson resigned this week – and coaches Ray Lewington and Billy McKinlay will steer the ship while the Whites sift through the avalanche of applications for their new man.
In fact, the club was surprised negotiations by Liverpool took as long as they did this week having agreed a £2.5million compensation package for Hodgson over the weekend.
The Whites were holding out even as far back as last Friday that the 62-year-old might be staying – but made no moves for a new manager until they received Hodgson’s express desire to quit Craven Cottage.
A club insider reckoned everything would tick over nicely under Lewington and McKinlay until they appointed a new boss.
“It’s all about fitness and physical preparation right now,” the source said,” so it doesn’t need the normal tactical input of a manager you get before a game.
“The club doesn’t need to rush the decision for a new coach.”
However, there was an inkling Liverpool would eventually get their man as far back as the beginning of June when Philippe Senderos was asked whether it made any difference if Hodgson stayed or went.
The Arsenal central defender had previously linked up with the former Fulham boss when Hodgson was coach of the Swiss national team, but was happy to join the Whites regardless of the name on the manager's door.
“Philippe just wanted the chance to play football – and made it plain that’s why he was joining Fulham – not because he could play for Roy,” said the source.
