Last Updated: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:53
Fulham are reportedly planning action against the Sunday People for claiming they are looking to replace Roy Hodgson with John Collins.
The Cottagers are angry after seeing the newspaper report suggest chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has set up talks with former midfielder Collins about taking over the Craven Cottage hot seat from Hodgson, who himself only took over from Lawrie Sanchez at the turn of the year.
Collins, who played 65 times for Fulham, was tipped to take over in late December when he quit his job with Hibernian 24 hours before Sanchez was axed by the west Londoners. However former Blackburn, Switzerland and Finland coach Hodgson got the nod and remains at the helm as he looks to pull off the great escape by keeping the Cottagers in the Premier League with two games remaining.
Fulham are set to stick with Hodgson even if they are relegated so board member and club solicitor Stuart Benson has asked the People to publish a 'complete retraction' of their story linking Collins with the job.
He said: "The article claims that John Collins looks likely to replace the club's current manager Roy Hodgson and that Mr Collins will be meeting Fulham's chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, during the course of the current week to discuss taking over as manager.
"The article is wholly and utterly false; indeed I can only assume that it represents pure invention on the part of Mr Kidd given that there are and have been no plans either to replace Roy Hodgson, or to have any discussion whatsoever with Mr Collins, nor is there any wish or intent to do so.
"No discussions with him have taken place, nor will be taking place and no meeting between him and Mr Al Fayed is planned."