Fulham

Jokanovic at odds with Fulham hierarchy over transfers

Slavisa Jokanovic is at odds with the Fulham hierarchy over the club’s transfer policy.

The Whites head coach has become frustrated with what he perceives to be inaction over suggestions he has made for players to add to his squad.

The Serbian has overseen an excellent start to the Championship season, with two wins and a draw, and behind the scenes he has been urging the club to capitalise on their strong position.

He has identified a number of players himself, including Blackburn winger Ben Marshall, but has already seen previous targets join other clubs.

Jokanovic wanted Real Murcia’s Eddy Silvestre, who was loaned to Cordoba, and Almen Abdi, who he worked with at Watford. but the Swiss midfielder signed for Sheffield Wednesday.

Mike Rigg, Fulham’s chief football officer, joined in December 2014

Chief football officer Mike Rigg is in overall control of strategy at Craven Cottage and Fulham officials insist the club is working hard to support Jokanovic, and expect to bring in three or four new players before the transfer deadline.

Rigg and his backroom team are keen to use modern scouting methods and, like many other clubs, place great emphasis on statistics when assessing possible signings.

The club have been busy this summer, signing nine players for Jokanovic.

They have added Sone Aluko, Floyd Ayite, Kevin McDonald, Scott Malone, David Button, Michael Madl, Jozabed Sanchez and Denis Odoi, while Tomas Kalas was brought in on loan from Chelsea.

This post was last modified on 20/08/2016

Lyall Thomas

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  • Lets see who they sign before the end of this transfer window, Generally I agree Rigg has been the problem over the last few season and is probably the reason why we struggled to get a new manager.

  • If you want to go to the premiership,then you have to spend big and more then we ever had to get there. And you'll need players that are good enough to keep you in the premiership.riggs is not helping this club. He needs to go, unless we will end up in the 1st divison. We nearly did last season.

  • I'm with David on this. We have recruited terribly since Hodgsons departure and at that time the team needed an overhaul as we were relying on a lot of older players. But , and I know we are only a handful of games in, the current recruits seem a big improvement. We are recruiting to match the managers plan and if Rigg us being careful and diligent and its a bit slow then fine if it stops us signing the dross of the last few years. Some of you need to read this again, no one is saying the club us not prepared to spend money or to sign more players, SJ is frustrated we weren't able to get some of his targets. No one seems to have said that we didn't try, indeed the hole in this story is that we don't know why the players went to other clubs. I mean, would you have chosen last years play off finalists or a team that just avoided relegation. This reads like cheap journalism, "manager and board agree on transfer strategy" doesn't win any ratings does it.

  • I agree Rigg is killing this club he has to go if only We could protest this and get him out. Slav is doing and done a top job but isn't being given the tools to take this club forward. It's like they want us just to get by all the time. We cashed in on all our strikers almost and not even spend a penny really. Disgusting. rigg out.

  • Point number one Where as all the money gone from the parachute payments we receive also not only Rigg shu go but the ceo mr mackintosh as he was in charge of spending when we purchased matroglue and also sanctioned money for felix the cat tosspend also if Mr Khan doesn't want to spend money then sell the club back to alfayed

  • I agree with malcom Taylor get rid of Rigg we have suffered enough we want our glory days back in premiership good leadership in slav we trust I live in Newcastle and a season ticket holder at fulham home and away I travel

  • I think you will find Rgg has been sacked from all previous posts
    and remember he nearly bankrupted Q P R.

  • I'm with Malcolm – the general feeling at 'THE CLUB' and I say that as it's the fans who make 'the club' is that Rigg is a waste of space... If you want to look at 'Stats' lets look at his?

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Lyall Thomas