Al Fayed set to rally the troops
Fulham chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed will give a rousing pre-match address to his side before they take on Birmingham in a last-ditch attempt to secure Premier League survival. Fulham go into today's tie at Craven Cottage two points behind their opponents, who are themselves a point from safety.
And the Harrods owner will personally attempt to inspire the west London side to their first back-to-back win for nearly 20 months.
The Egyptian, who is worth £555m according to the recent Rich List, bought the club in 1997 and has overseen their rise through the divisions, although their seven-year stay in the top flight will almost certainly be curtailed if they fail to beat Birmingham.
And Fulham manager Roy Hodgson insisted his players will respond well to Al-Fayed, who has twice before made pre-match visits this season - before the home victory over Everton and the defeat to Liverpool.
"He was prepared to come to the training ground and asked if I thought it would be a better idea to come in before the game," said Hodgson, who has won only four of his 18 league games in charge since replacing Lawrie Sanchez in January.
"I suggested before the game might be better and that suited him too.
"The players react positively. This is because of his passion for the club and his whole-hearted commitment to keeping the club in the division. He's showing his colours.
"When he does come it's a very positive occasion, and when he said he wanted to say a few words again I was very, very happy. I know they will be happy to see him."
Hodgson has also warned referee Chris Foy to prevent Birmingham's controversial tactics at free-kicks, which in recent weeks has seen them score twice after placing centre-half Rahdi Jaidi behind the defensive wall and in the goalkeeper's line of vision.
"When you stand someone behind the wall and obscure the goalkeeper's view you have to be interfering with play - it's offside," said Hodgson after seeing Mauro Zarate and Sebastien Larsson benefit.
"In the future will you have eleven players on the edge of the six-yard box to block the goalkeeper?
"I cannot see how that can be justified - and I shall be having a word with the referee about this before the game."
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Posted by purple – 2 May 2008, 11:03 PM
I think its great he wants to come and talk to the players. it really shows great support of the team that not every owner has. Based on the coach's comments about the referee being warned about Birmingham's possible cheating they seem to be really on their game.