Former Fulham favourite Sylvain Legwinski has told the Evening Standard that Chris Coleman’s sacking was the best thing that could have happened” to the club.
The French midfielder insisted that Coleman, who was dismissed earlier this week after Fulham were beaten at home by Manchester City, had taken the club ‘backwards’ during his tenure and that he should have been axed earlier. Legwinski left Fulham last summer after falling out with the Welsh manager and is currently with Ipswich Town.
The 33 year-old, who made 164 appearances in five years at Craven Cottage, said: “Sacking Coleman was the best thing that could have happened to Fulham. The only question is about the timing because it should have happened much earlier. It should have been done two years ago. I hope it is not too late.”
“The club have gone backwards under him. This season was the first where it could be truly called his team as there was no one left from the Jean Tigana era. They are doing badly and it is sad to see where they are now, but in truth Fulham were lucky not to be in the relegation zone for the last two years and that is because of Coleman.”
“It took him two years to realise how physical preparation in pre-season is vital in the Premiership. The work was different when Tigana was in charge. It was more intense – but under Coleman the training sessions were shorter, he did not work us as hard and we were given more days off. I found it very strange because I wanted to work harder and the players lacked fitness. But no one senior in the club was keeping an eye on him or seemed to know what it takes to run a football team.”
