Fulham caretaker has eye on job at hand
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
LONDON, Dec 25 (AFP): Fulham caretaker boss Ray Lewington has insisted the club's search for a new manager will not hinder his bid to steer the Cottagers through the notoriously busy Christmas period.
After a string of poor results which has left them in danger of relegation Fulham sacked Lawrie Sanchez last week, leaving Lewington to step into the breach on a temporary basis.
And although he has refused to rule himself out of the running for the top job he is at ease with the board's recruitment process and insists he will continue to keep his mind on the task in hand.
Fulham play Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Boxing Day, and Lewington told the club's website www.fulhamfc.com: "I will do the job to the best of my ability until I'm told otherwise.
"I'm realistic to know that the club will look outside, if I was them I would do exactly the same thing.
"The next man they appoint has the transfer window and the second half of the season is going to be so important because of the situation we find ourselves in. I would be silly to ask them how long have I got.
"There's no pressure on me, I can go about the job the way I want and when they make their decision, if that involves me, great, if it doesn't that's fine as well.
"You've got to look at it from their point of view; they have got to make sure it's right because the second half is going to be so important. So I'm certainly not going to put pressure on anyone and say 'I want this or I want that'."
Spurs, meanwhile, confirmed Monday they will complete the signing of Wales defender Chris Gunter from Cardiff when the transfer window opens in January.
After a string of poor results which has left them in danger of relegation Fulham sacked Lawrie Sanchez last week, leaving Lewington to step into the breach on a temporary basis.
And although he has refused to rule himself out of the running for the top job he is at ease with the board's recruitment process and insists he will continue to keep his mind on the task in hand.
Fulham play Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Boxing Day, and Lewington told the club's website www.fulhamfc.com: "I will do the job to the best of my ability until I'm told otherwise.
"I'm realistic to know that the club will look outside, if I was them I would do exactly the same thing.
"The next man they appoint has the transfer window and the second half of the season is going to be so important because of the situation we find ourselves in. I would be silly to ask them how long have I got.
"There's no pressure on me, I can go about the job the way I want and when they make their decision, if that involves me, great, if it doesn't that's fine as well.
"You've got to look at it from their point of view; they have got to make sure it's right because the second half is going to be so important. So I'm certainly not going to put pressure on anyone and say 'I want this or I want that'."
Spurs, meanwhile, confirmed Monday they will complete the signing of Wales defender Chris Gunter from Cardiff when the transfer window opens in January.