The Premier League today denied that they were involved in setting up joint ownership and groundshare talks between Fulham and Chelsea.
The two clubs finished discussions this week when, as revealed by Standard Sport, Fulham chairman Mohamed Fayed rejected an offer to take a 9.9 per cent stake in Chelsea Village - the debt-burdened parent company of the Stamford Bridge club - and a 25-year lease to play at their ground. Fulham, who are looking for a new home, were to pay £15 million and five per cent of their turnover in return, but said that they would be more interested in a temporary ground share while they build their own stadium.
That looks unlikely now as Chelsea chairman Ken Bates is upset that news of talks with Mohamed Al Fayed got out.
The Blues' official website said: "We were basically responding to suggestions made by the Premier League. Chelsea were proposing a neighbourly act towards a club that may face homelessness."
But the Premier League denied having any involvement.
A spokesman responded: "This has been a matter strictly between the two clubs. If they wanted to pursue it, maybe it would have required the Premier League's permission but it was not suggested by us."
Source Evening Standard by Leo Spall