Scott Parker could be given the chance to try to save Fulham’s season if manager Slavisa Jokanovic is sacked.
Fulham are bottom of the Premier League table, having won only once, and travel to Liverpool on Sunday.
Jokanovic has not been given any indication he will be sacked if Fulham lose again, but the international break gives the club time to consider their options.
Rather than immediately asking a firefighter such as David Moyes or Sam Allardyce to take over, sources close to the club believe Fulham would be more likely to give first-team coach Parker the opportunity to stake his claim.
Parker is highly thought of at Craven Cottage and could be given his first management job on an interim basis, while Fulham consider their options.
Jokanovic introduced an attractive, passing style that Fulham would be reluctant to ditch by replacing the Serb with Moyes, Allardyce or Steve Bruce, despite their current predicament.
Parker has completed his coaching badges and has made no secret of his desire to move into full management, even though he is fully supportive of Jokanovic.
It is believed that desire was behind the 38 year-old’s decision to return to Fulham as first-team coach from Tottenham Hotspur, where he was the Under-18s coach.
Former midfielder Parker made 128 appearances in three seasons for Fulham after signing from Tottenham in 2013.
Other than Moyes and Allardyce, who would be unpopular appointments with many Fulham fans, Claudio Ranieri and Brendan Rodgers have been mentioned as potential successors to Jokanovic. Rodgers, though, would be an expensive choice.
Jokanovic is hoping he will be given more time to turn things around at Fulham, following the defeat to relegation rivals Huddersfield Town, and is making plans for the international break even though the situation could rapidly change.
Fulham spent more than £100 million on new players during the summer, but finger-pointing has already started over who was responsible for the incoming transfers.
