Fulham chairman Shahid Khan has promised Slavisa Jokanovic money to invest in the squad this summer as the club’s transfer embargo is lifted.
The Whites made a loss greater than the £6million limit allowed by the Football League in the year following relegation and were not permitted to buy players in January.
That meant the newly-appointed Serbian boss was unable to perform major surgery on the squad he inherited from Kit Symons and a succession of caretaker managers.
However, he was able to do some minor tinkering and the loan acquisition of Austrian defender Michael Madl from Sturm Graz proved a shrewd bit of business.
The summer transfer window represents Jokanović’s first real opportunity to put his stamp on the west Londoners and Whites chief Khan is ready to back him financially.
“Under Slaviša Jokanović , we will enter the 2016/17 campaign with great anticipation and confidence as high as it has been in years,” Khan said in a message to supporters.
“Slaviša will be given the green light to build a team capable of promotion, and that’s important, because it appears the Sky Bet Championship will be as difficult as ever.
“The complete support and passion of our loyal fans will be crucial as we begin our first full season under Slaviša’s direction and take aim at promotion, and that’s why season ticket prices will not increase next season. We want and need you with us!
“We plan more promotions and opportunities to reward the faith of our supporters, who always help to make Craven Cottage one of the premier destinations in all of football.
“I personally thank all of our supporters and, in particular, our season ticket holders who never waver and can always be counted on to stand behind the Whites.”
This is of course not the first time Khan has released such a statement and his open message to the fans is almost a year since his previous vow to put smiles back on faces.
Back then, Khan also promised funds to then manager Symons in order to assemble a team to challenge for ‘top honours’ before the club was placed under the embargo.
However, another relegation battle followed and Khan will need to learn from the mistakes that were made in the last 12 months to avoid a repeat with his new manager.
Meanwhile, Khan has personally commissioned Heatherwick Studio, led by celebrated designer Thomas Heatherwick, to assist with the development of the Riverside Stand.
Planning permission has already been granted for a new stand as Fulham look to increase the capacity of Craven Cottage as they bid to return to the Premier League.
“The Riverside Stand project required patience and diligence, and ultimately a designer who understands the history of London, the Thames and, of course, Fulham,” Khan said.
“Thomas Heatherwick is that designer. I have had many meetings with Thomas in the past half-year and while his work speaks for itself, to hear him articulate his vision is something else.
“Thomas will bring to life what the project, the neighbourhood and the Fulham community deserve.”
