Roy Hodgson insists he will not deserve to be sacked if Fulham are relegated and branded discussion of his position “demeaning”.
The Cottagers sit four points adrift of safety with four games left – starting at home against Liverpool on Saturday – to beat the drop.
Hodgson has overseen just three victories in 14 matches since succeeding Lawrie Sanchez in December and reports have stated he will be axed if Fulham go down.
But the former Inter Milan boss, who has secured just one more win than Sanchez, insists he should be allowed to see out his contract.
“I don’t fear for my job. I’m fully aware that if a team fails the manager is at risk of losing his job,” he said.
“But for me to lose my job would not be a deserved fate given the way my staff and I have been doing our work.
“The work we have done has been good and the players have responded to it. I think I’ve done a good job.
“I will have been here four months by the time the season ends and that’s no time at all. But that doesn’t stop people asking questions.
“If we run out of time and get relegated it would be up to the club to decide what happens. I’m contracted for next season.
“We all know that these days changes in management are a fairly common event and I’ll just have to accept it if it happens.
“But I certainly won’t feel I’ll have deserved it. The question about managers’ jobs comes up a lot, it seems to be the only thing people are interested in.
“It’s demeaning to have to consistently come in and tell people why you should be allowed to fulfil your contract.”
Fulham’s bid for survival has been lifted by the news Liverpool are expected to head to the capital without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Gerrard has a neck problem while Torres is likely to be rested as Reds boss Rafael Benitez keeps one eye on Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Chelsea.
“Gerrard and Torres are two exceptional players,” said Hodgson.
“When they are on the field they can turn a game with a moment of individual genius. It would be foolish of me not recognise their genius and what their absence would mean for us.”
Last season Fulham effectively secured their top-flight status with a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the penultimate match of the campaign.
With attention diverted to Europe, Benitez fielded a weakened side that contributed to Sanchez landing a permanent contract and the Spaniard is set to do Hodgson a favour too.
But Hodgson, who revealed chairman Mohamed Al Fayed made another morale-boosting visit to the training ground today, questions the benefit of facing a weakened Liverpool.
“Benitez must be looking at Chelsea. With Everton losing last night it seems like their fourth place in the Premiership is very secure,” he said.
“Because of that I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he rests some of the players he believes will be key to Tuesday.
“But I’m not certain that’s really to our advantage because it might be better to play his strongest team as they might then have Tuesday’s match in their mind.”
