FUL-TIME? NOT YET FOR SLAV
Cottagers boss told he WILL get chance to lift the Prem’s bottom side
SLAVISA JOKANOVIC has been given assurances he will be allowed time to turn around Fulham’s fortunes.
The manager is under growing pressure at Craven Cottage after Monday night’s defeat to relegation rivals Huddersfield left Fulham bottom of the Premier League.
But the Cottagers’ billionaire owner Shahid Khan (above) has publicly offered support and behind the scenes the club have also made it clear they remain committed to Jokanovic.
Fulham’s hierarchy spoke to Jokanovic even before the defeat to Huddersfield and he is confident his future will not be decided by Sunday’s trip to Liverpool. The international break comes up after Anfield but Jokanovic maintains his belief he will be in charge of the club for the long term.
The Serb, who led Fulham to promotion via the play-offs last season, insists he can turn their fortunes around, even though they have conceded a joint Premier League record 29 goals in their first 11 games.
“It’s not a nice situation for us, being bottom of the Premier League,” said Jokanovic, who took over in December 2015.
“It’s extra pressure for the team, for all of us. But if you look at last season, after 11 games, Crystal Palace were on four points and they didn’t get relegated.
“There are many points to win and many games ahead of us, but we need to improve immediately.” Jokanovic, 50, knows there are limits to Khan’s patience and that his fate is in the hands of the American tycoon. But the owner respects the job the former Watford boss has done at Craven Cottage.
Khan believes Jokanovic has shown over previous Championship campaigns his teams have a strong second half of the season, and is banking on history repeating itself in the Premier League.
However, Jokanovic accepts he must dramatically improve Fulham’s run of five straight league defeats, especially after the club splashed out £108million on 12 new players in the summer.
Defence remains the biggest concern, with Jokanovic accepting he does not have the final say on transfers, but there is a will to improve results and also blend in the new players.