Fulham are back in the big time

FULHAM returned to the Premier League after a four-year absence as Tom Cairney scored the only goal to break Aston Villa hearts in the Championship play-off final, the richest game in world football.

Cairney’s first-half goal was decisive as Fulham, owned by US billionaire Shahid Khan, held on to their narrow lead despite having defender Denis Odoi sent off after 70 minutes as tempers began to fray on a sultry afternoon.

The win secures the west London club a windfall of at least £160 million as they join Championship title winners Wolves and Cardiff City in the top flight next season.

‘After we missed out on promotion (in the play-offs) last season, a lot of people wrote us off,’ Cairney said. ‘We got a lot of stick. But football won today.’

Fulham will earn £95million next term, as part of the Premier League’s broadcasting deal, and up to £75 million in parachute payments in 2019-20 and 2020-21 should they fail to stay up.