The mountain comes to Mohamed Fayed when the big issues involving the
Premier League are being discussed.
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Fulham
Chairman and Owner
Mohamed Al Fayed
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The Fulham owner doesn't rate the regular Premiership chairmen's meetings
as a forum for significant talks - his only appearance since his team joined
English football's elite was a brief helicopter visit to the summer summit
- so, instead, he invites the other powerbrokers to lunch in the Georgian
restaurant at Harrods.
The first guests were Aston Villa's Doug Ellis, Arsenal's David Dein,
Charlton's Richard Murray, West Ham's Terry Brown and Tottenham's Daniel
Levy, while Ipswich's David Sheepshanks and Southampton's Rupert Lowe
attended the second meal with Fayed this week.
Fulham spokesman Chester Stern said: 'The chairman believes the crowded
Premier-ship shareholders' meetings aren't an effective discussion place
and he doesn't like sitting there for two hours or so.
'He's not attempting to be a maverick leader, he just prefers the more
intimate talks he can have around the meal table at Harrods.
'The gatherings have proved a great success with the talks centering
on important matters like the standard of referees, TV rights and stadium
branding.'
The chairmen can order what food they want from the Harrods kitchen while
Fayed enjoys his favourite truffles along with the football talk. A third
lunch has been planned, with Leeds' Peter Ridsdale and Chelsea's Ken Bates
on the guest list, which will be a lively affair as Bates and Fayed are
not exactly soul-mates.