Hodgson: Cousin deal still on
08 Feb 2008 - 07:41:53
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is adamant his attempt to sign Daniel Cousin from Rangers remains alive.
The Gabon forward has been left in limbo after his proposed move to the Cottagers hit a snag last month.
By playing 20 minutes of a friendly for Lyon in the summer prior to joining Rangers, Cousin has fallen foul of a FIFA rule which prevents players from representing three different clubs during the course of a season.
Both Fulham and Rangers have appealed to FIFA and the governing body has yet to rule on the future of the 31-year-old striker.
However, despite suggestions the move will eventually fall through, Hodgson is confident of landing his man in a £3million deal agreed back in January.
He said: "Yes, it is still alive.
"FIFA have requested further documents and I believe that one of their important executive committee members, who chairs the necessary commission which looks into these things, will consider the case on his return from the African Nations Cup.
"Hopefully then, we will get an answer - hopefully positive, but, even if it was negative, at least we would know where we are. But, at the moment we are awaiting that decision.
"Will it be next week? I don't know. FIFA have not yet said, we have not been told a date."
"I am more disappointed for Daniel Cousin, because he came here in good faith, and we took him here in good faith, and Rangers reluctantly agreed to sell him to us.
"And then, all of a sudden, because of this 20 minutes he finds himself in some sort of limbo."