Source: Team_Talk
Cole expects Hodgson to stay
Fulham director Michael Cole insists Roy Hodgson is "integral" to the club.[LNB] The Cottagers' hopes of winning their first European trophy were dashed on Wednesday night in Hamburg as Europa League final opponents Atletico Madrid scored an extra-time goal to win 2-1.[LNB]Hodgson revealed his desperate disappointment after the match but is expecting to fulfil his contract and be in charge of the club for the 2010-11 Barclays Premier League season.[LNB]And Cole insisted this morning: "He is integral to the club, a very great manager. And as (club owner) Mohamed al Fayed has said, he's more than a manager - he's a very great human being.[LNB]"We do think he will stay and I think he'll be at Fulham because essentially he has what every manager says he wants - a free hand and the confidence of the chairman. By and large he gets the support he requires in the way he wants it."[LNB]Cole insists al Fayed will not end in his interest in the Cottagers after it was revealed last week that he is deciding to sell Harrods and retire - even hinting it could be good news for the club.[LNB]The Qatari royal family are buying the store for a reported £1.5billion through Qatar Holding, the investment arm of the Qatar Investment Authority, which trades on behalf of the state.[LNB]Cole added on Sky Sports News: "Mohamed al Fayed carried out a brilliant deal for Harrods. There is some regret that he is selling but he has improved the shop.[LNB]"What he'll do in the future I think is a question for him, not me. But because he's sold the shop he's not going to sell the club.[LNB]"Because you sell your house you do not necessarily sell your car - you might even upgrade it if you sell your house for a tidy sum."
