FULHAM have stated that no decision will be made on whether they will stay at
Craven Cottage until next year.
Under the Taylor Report the current First Division leaders have one year left
after next season to move into an all-seater stadium, but this looks impossible
and so despite the fact that they could stay at Craven Cottage in the 2001/2002
campaign the most feasible option available to the West London club is to redevelop
their ground.
But that would obviously mean that they will have to find a new home for at
least one season, and the nearest ground - Stamford Bridge, is only allowed
to stage a certain number of games a year - so is a non-starter.
Twickenham and Reading would also be possibilities, but Stadium manager Suzanne
Brooks has confirmed they will not play at either of these venues, even of they
cannot play at Craven Cottage.
"Until we negotiate with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
there will be no comment on where we will play." "We definitely won't be playing
at Reading or Twickenham. "It is obviously down to the Football Association,
but nothing will happen until May or June when we will know whether we are promoted
or not". "We have a planning application that we have in at the moment
and we are hoping for an answer by the end of the year, but that could drag
on into January. But we have not spoken to any club, and there are no negotiations
going on.
The Football Association have said that any team is entitled to three years
to come up to the required standards, after reaching the First Division, but
any decision on entry to the Premiership is up to the Premier League.
"Fulham have one year left in which they have to develop, so come what may
they have to develop and in theory they have one season left." said the
Premier League`s chief spokesman Philip French." "The Premier League
controls it's own rules, we are not helpless, the decision is completely
up to the Premier League, as to what criteria a team needs to have entry to
the Premiership." "At the moment Fulham still have one year left, the criteria
as it stands means they can retain a certain measure of terracing, however if
we decide to change the criteria then we can do, but we have no plans to do
this."
"We can stop Fulham getting promoted if we wish, this will not happen,
but it just emphasises what we can do." "It is a question for the FLA (Football
Licensing Authority) to grant them a licence, and we could ask them for their
comments on whether the terracing is adequate to sustain Premiership crowds."
"We will have discussions with the FLA, it is quite clear that they have had
two years to do something, but at the end of the one year left they will have
to play at an all-seater stadium." "Fulham will have to engage in
ground redevelopment at some point and but if they do choose to stay at Craven
Cottage and satisfy the safety criteria they can admit fans onto their terraces."
The FLA, have confirmed though that Fulham are entitled to use Craven Cottage
next season, but only if safety licences are granted.
"The governments requirements are that Fulham should be all seater by August
2002, they will still be within the time frame set by the government," said
an FLA spokesman." "Any club that wants additional time will come to us,
and the legal requirement is a government one which we enforce." "Whether
or not the Premier League would want to enforce anything like that on top of
that, is up to them." "We would prefer every ground to be all-seater,
but we have to take a reasonable view, as in most cases they have at least two
to three seasons."
"All seater will remain the government policy and it is here to stay."