JOHN Collins has emerged as the front runner to take over at Fulham after the struggling Brclays Premier League club sacked Lawrie Sanchez.
Collins, a former Fulham player, quit as manager of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian earlier this week.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol and ex-Partizan Belgrade coach Miroslav Djukic are also reported to be on Fulham’s shortlist.
Sanchez, who had taken the reigns only eight months ago, was the latest victim in a spate of managerial changes in the Barclays Premier League over the past four months.
“The club would like to thank Lawrie for helping the club through a difficult period at the end of last season, and thank him for his service over the last eight months," Fulham said in a statement.
Ray Lewington and Billy McKinlay have been placed in caretaker charge for this weekend’s league fixture against Wigan Athletic.
Fulham, who only narrowly avoided the drop last season, are third bottom of the league after winning just twice this term. The Cottagers have just 13 points from 17 games.
"The club is confident that it will find the right replacement to increase its chances of remaining in the Premier League, which is of vital importance," Fulham said in their statement.
"Following a run of disappointing results, the club is languishing in the relegation zone of the Premier League table – and losing its Premier League status is a proposition that simply can not be contemplated at this stage in the club’s ongoing development."
Speaking after he left Hibs, Collins denied having any talks with Fulham.
"There has been no contact from Fulham," he said.
"That would be disrespectful to the manager, who is doing a tough job just now."
But now Sanchez has gone, the former Scotland midfielder, who finished his career at Fulham in 2003, will be an attractive option for the London club.
They will have to move quickly because Scotland, without a manager after Alex McLeish’s switch to Birmingham City, have also been linked with Collins.
Agence France-Presse
Source: Fulham looking to Collins
