| |
|
|
| |
 |
|
| |
Mohamed
Al Fayed Chairman and Owner of Fulham Football Club
picture |
|
If Fulham can emulate their chairman's talent
for dramatic entrances, Manchester United had better beware.
Twenty minutes into a recent meeting of Premiership chairmen in London,
with Mohamed Al Fayed already noted as absent from his first official top-flight
pow-wow, the noise of an approaching helicopter began to drown out the minutes
of the fan-fleecing sub-committee.
As it touched down, bodyguards rushed forward to open the doors and Al Fayed
sauntered in ready for business, missing only a blast of Wagner to complete
the effect. The man who owns Fulham - the club, not the area - expected
a reaction and he certainly got one, as certain rivals voiced their dis-pleasure
at his theatrical touches.
Al Fayed had made his point. Neither he nor his football team intend to tiptoe
around the Premiership in their debut season. The Nationwide League champions
face United at Old Trafford, on paper the kind of opening match which should
really be outlawed on grounds of cruelty.
Yet, just as Fulham manager Jean Tigana will not be planning for defeat,
so his chairman refuses to ease back on long-term ambitions to make his
club one of the biggest and best on the planet.
Al Fayed said: 'I am not the most patient man in the world, so I want things
to happen as quickly as possible. When I took over Fulham, everyone in the
world told me I was mad, that I would spend money and the club would go
nowhere.
'In my time they've gone from virtually slipping out of the Football League
to playing in the Premier League. The rescue operation has been very expensive
but hugely rewarding.'
Al Fayed has already spent around £80million and will spend much more
on this personal crusade.
'Anyone who knows me will tell you that I want to build the very best. Harrods
is the greatest store in the world, the Ritz Paris is one of the greatest
hotels in the world,' added Al Fayed, owner of both. 'My dream is for Fulham
Football Club to become one of the world's greatest clubs, and I intend
to make that dream come true.
'Fulham have the potential to join the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal,
Chelsea, Liverpool, Leeds - teams that are establishing themselves as among
the very best in the game.
'Jean Tigana has ability and, in particular, he has a genius for turning
good players into great players. I hope Fulham will establish themselves
in the Premiership, playing the kind of football that they played last year.
Realistically, I know it's going to be hard. I am prepared for that.'
Al Fayed clearly enjoys being in the front line. He also revels in the very
public role of saviour.
To his critics, it can appear as shallow as a hugely wealthy man showing
off. Scratch the surface, however, and it becomes apparent that Al Fayed needs
to feel part of Fulham as much as they need his largesse.
Friends will testify that he wells up with emotion when talking about his
hopes for the club. His feelings stem from Fulham fans' reaction to the
death of his son, Dodi, in the car crash which also claimed the life of
Princess Diana.
'I will never forget the warmth and kindness they showed to me in those
dark days when I lost my son,' revealed Al Fayed. 'Men, women and children
came up to speak to me and the comfort they gave to me was so important.
'Therefore, I get so much pleasure from Fulham's success - because I see
the pleasure that it gives those fans. I get an awful lot from the supporters
and I want to give as much as I can back.
'I said that my aim is to make Fulham great again and I'm prepared to stay
there until that happens.'
The year ahead represents a major test for Fulham, who must establish themselves
in the Premiership, woo new fans with attractive football and, at least
by the end of the campaign, find a temporary home while Craven Cottage is
developed in time for season 2002-03.
Then there's the commitment to youth development and the small matter of
Tigana being head-hunted for every good job which becomes available.
Given the size of the task in hand, perhaps there's no better way to start
than playing the undisputed best team in the country on their own patch.
It's probably exactly what Al Fayed was hoping for.
If anyone at Old Trafford tomorrow hears a helicopter approaching, don't
say you haven't been warned.
|