Received an email from the Fulham Supporter's Trust following a meeting they had with the Club yesterday morning. Thought it worth posting the bit about "Transfers" in a separate thread. [The highlights in bold are mine] The attendees at the meeting were: Tom Greatrex, Dan Crawford and Mike Gregg from FST Alistair Mackintosh (AM, Chief Executive Officer), Casper Stylsvig (CS, Chief Revenue Officer) and Darren Preston (DP, Chief Operating Officer) from FFC "Transfer window AM recognised that there had been a lot of comment from Fulham fans about the Club’s business during the summer transfer window. He welcomed the Trust’s invitation to outline the Club’s current position. AM said the Club began its preparations for the summer by seeking to secure the future of the key performers from last season’s squad were secured. The Club was very pleased to sign Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon to long-term deals this month and this spoke to the Club’s desire to retain its strongest assets. The head coach and coaching staff identified the areas of the squad where additional signings were necessary. AM said that the Club’s first summer signing, Marcelo Djalo, was approved by the statistical analysis system, but was heavily scouted by the Club’s own network and first team coaching staff. He said Djalo represented a small outlay in a position where the Club was short of potential first team players and that the Club was looking to sign players who would increase in value during their time at the football club. AM also confirmed that the Club was actively looking to recruit more centre halves. AM confirmed that Fulham had returned to Ibrahima Cisse, who was a target that had been identified during the January transfer window, because it wanted to add more depth in midfield. Cisse was comfortable playing as a defensive midfielder or in a more orthodox midfield role and the management team was impressed with the start he had made during pre-season. The Club were very pleased to be able to re-sign Lucas Piazon on a season-long loan. Slavisa Jokanovic had felt that Piazon had made a significant contribution last season and that he would be a first-team option who would be able to provide cover in a number of positions. AM also confirmed that the Club was continuing to look for strikers to supplement the first team squad. A number of the Club’s long-term targets had not signed for other sides and discussions were ongoing. AM also said that Slavisa Jokanovic’s preferred system allowed for flexibility in the type of striker used – the head coach was pleased with the way the likes of Floyd Ayite and Neeskens Kebano performed in the second half of the season and, it could be argued, that they were more effective than the traditional type of forward, such as Chris Martin. AM said the Club was keen to keep to sensible business principles in the transfer market and that the head coach agreed with this approach. In a response to a question from the Trust, AM discussed Scott Malone’s departure. AM felt that Malone had done terrifically well for Fulham and was very honest in saying that his dream was to play in the Premier League, so he was eager to accept Huddersfield’s offer when it was put to him. AM said that the deal was considered a very good one for Fulham, in particular following Ryan Sessegnon’s emergence into the first team, and that Malone left the Club with everyone’s best wishes. AM also said that it, whilst he was saddened by the departure of Lasse Vigen Christensen, it was felt it was the right time for him to move on. Both the player and head coach had accepted that there was little chance of him getting first-team football with Fulham and, despite a successful loan spell with Burton Albion, there was no Championship interest in his services. AM said that Christensen was a model professional and the Club wished him the very best in his future career. AM acknowledged that there was some debate about how large a squad Fulham should operate with in the Championship. He tended to feel that the Club should have at least two senior professionals in each position and wanted to retain the pathway for the Club’s best young players to make an impact in the first team. The Club was delighted to secure the signature of Tayo Edun on a long-term contract following his success at the European Under 19 Championships and AM was pleased to see the strong performances of a number of the academy players during the pre-season tours. AM also stated that the Club’s recruitment was far from finished and that everyone was working hard to ensure Slavisa Jokanovic had all the resources he needed to sustain a promotion push during the forthcoming season."
Very PR answers The Marcelo Djalo comments doesn't really gel with me, I don't want to hear potential first team player, we need at least 2 centre-backs who can do the job now. The Malone comments about wanting Premier football are probably correct, but the transfer price worries me, in that with Huddersfield you are dealing with a (now) Premier League club and should have got a better price for him, let's hope that the add-ons if any are sufficient to replace him with a classie full-back, as we know that Sessegnon is not the answer at full-back. Personally I think the club should 'kiss and tell' after the transfer window closes all the players we dealt with during the window, and why they decline to join, agents etc... I'll be interested to see the BS feedback that AliM had to say about the New Riverside stand since he was the one who spent all last year on the 'project'.
Here you go - "Riverside Stand In a response to a question from representatives of the Trust, AM confirmed that the Club was continuing to work on a final design for the redevelopment of the Riverside Stand. He revealed that chairman Shahid Khan had been in London ten days ago to examine the latest plans, and AM hoped that the Club would be in a position to go out to consultation with supporters on these proposals in October. AM thanked the Fulham fans for their continued patience and reiterated the Riverside Stand redevelopment was intended to increase the Club’s non-match day and hospitality offer as well as solidify Fulham’s future at Craven Cottage. He confirmed that the redevelopment was not contingent on the Club playing Premier League football."
What was the price for Malone, SuperBri? Obviously, it remains 'undisclosed' though I've heard up to £5M quoted. If that's the case, I think we got good value for him (though not if it's more like £2.5-3M, which I've also seen quoted).
I heard £3.5m but didn't hear about any add on's. As for the Riverside stand, I'll believe it when the work starts and not before, there's been so many times where they have said we only need to do one more thing and we'll start. Did the report say they had done any under-pinning of the Thames, because that was to happen last summer to take the main structure. Wonder what difference the new Hybrid Grass system at Fulham will make.
Bit scary if this is true. 'The current transfer market and the perceived lack of movement from Fulham to fill needed areas: striker, midfield depth, defensive depth and keeper is causing a lot of unrest and negativity towards the front office and Khan. Per Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance 2017, Fulham is carrying a debt of £117m and is the only club in the Championship to record the largest increase in net debt year-on-year of £29m. ' Full topic https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2017/7/29/16061952/moving-slowly-for-promotion
A fair chunk of the 'increasing debt' was spent on the Academy so won't count towards FFP. On paper, still looks bleak however. Khan Snr's 'business model' collapsed in year 1 with relegation. And that was brought about by one wrong decision - the appointment of Mad Magath. He can get himself out of the pickle he's now in by one correct decision - the backing of Jokanovic. Get back up to the Premiership and the revenue stream (mostly, but not only, TV money) increases exponentially; far exceeding his debts.
