This morning’s Daily Mirror carries more details of just how surprised Chris Coleman was to be sacked by Fulham.
The former club captain, who has kept the Whites in the top flight since saving them from relegation after taking over from Jean Tigana on a temporary basis in 2003, thought he was being called by managing director David McNally to talk about summer transfer targets but was shell-shocked be told that his time in charge at Craven Cottage had come to an end.
Coleman raged at being ‘stitched up’ after being assured that his job was safe in the immediate aftermath of Monday afternoon’s 3-1 home defeat by Manchester City – only for chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed to abruptly change his mind the following morning. The former Welsh defender had a morning meeting with McNally that seemed to suggest there would be no change and it is understood the revelation that his wife had bugged Coleman’s car did not help what had become a precarious position.
The Mirror quotes Fulham striker Collins John as saying:
“I’m quite surprised and can’t really believe it. The boys are not thinking for one second that we are going to be relegated.”