Source: Team_Talk
Fulham targeting 'top-drawer' boss
Ray Lewington says he is still in the dark over Roy Hodgson's successor, but is sure Fulham will be able to attract a "top-drawer" boss.[LNB] Ajax manager Martin Jol is now said to be the front-runner for the job, while others linked to the post include former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and two-time Champions League-winning coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.[LNB]Jol would represent a major coup if he made the move, as the former Tottenham boss would need to turn his back on the chance of Champions League football with Ajax this coming season.[LNB]But caretaker boss Lewington, who took charge of the Cottagers' second pre-season friendly on Saturday at Bournemouth, says he has no idea who Hodgson's successor will be, although he is confident the new Liverpool boss' legacy will enable the club to attract a manager of the highest calibre.[LNB]"I really don't know if I'll be in charge for the Sweden tour. All I know is that I'm in charge up until the new manager is appointed," said the former Watford boss.[LNB]"We don't know if it's Martin Jol. It's just another name that has been plucked out of the air as far as we are concerned.[LNB]"What I do know is that they are going to try to go for a top-drawer manager. We are a big club and we should be attracting a big-name manager now.[LNB]"We go for the top now. Having had Roy, you need to bring in someone of that stature to match him."[LNB]Fulham's second pre-season friendly since Hodgson's departure saw the Cottagers struggle to a 1-1 draw with npower League One side Bournemouth at Dean Court.[LNB]Despite including nine of the players that lost to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final, the team's performance was a lot poorer than the one that saw them hammer Brentford 5-0 at Griffin Park on Wednesday.[LNB]Following that match, midfielder Simon Davies admitted that it was "frustrating" that the club had not appointed anyone to replace Hodgson yet. Lewington disagrees, however.[LNB]Lewington said: "The chief executive has said that he isn't going to tell anyone until the appointment has been made.[LNB]"He has said to us that he wants to keep it as tight as possible which means that he is not going to tell us or even give us a whisper.[LNB]"I don't blame him for that because it clouds everything so we just get on with our jobs. When they decide to let us know then he will let us know. We're not worried about that."[LNB]Bobby Zamora, Fulham's 19-goal top scorer last season, equalised Anton Robinson's opener to ensure that Fulham came away from Dean Court with a draw today.[LNB]The former Spurs striker missed out on a possible World Cup place thanks to an Achilles injury he picked up towards the end of last season but Lewington reckons it will not be long before he is back to his best.[LNB]"I was impressed with Bobby today," said Lewington.[LNB]"You always worry that you haven't introduced him too early but we have good guys treating him and we've made sure that we have built him up slowly and he looked good today. He took his goal well."
