Fulham Football Club

• Nickname:Cottagers
• Founded:1879
• Manager:Martin Jol

• Ground:Craven Cottage
• Capacity:26,600

Sanchez hints at future role

13 Apr 2007 - 14:31:41

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Fulham caretaker-manager Lawrie Sanchez has hinted that he could take the reins on a full-time basis while remaining in charge of the Northern Ireland international side.

Sanchez was handed interim charge of the Cottagers earlier in the week following the sacking of Chris Coleman with the brief of keeping the club in the Premiership.

The club have five games remaining and Sanchez - who has been Northern Ireland manager for two years - believes it will be possible to combine the two roles should he impress the Fulham board between now and the end of the season.

"I took the job because I was asked. I've got a 32-day contract here," he told Sky Sports News.

"For the next 32 days I'll be totally focused on Fulham. We (Northern Ireland) don't play until August.

"If I was to win all five games I think I'd have quite a good justification to say I can do the job here.

"Likewise, if I were to lose all five games, there would be every justification to say you can't do the job here.

"Anywhere in between it falls will decide whether I'm here or not next season.

"I know that I can do the international job and a top job at the same time. I think it is possible to do both."

Meanwhile, the former Wycombe Wanderers manager believes five more points will secure the club's top-flight status.

"My job over the course of the next 32 days is to see Fulham safely into next term's Premiership," he continued.

"I would like to think we could achieve 40 points. That is the target. 40 points should be safe.

"The sooner we can get them the better. I wouldn't like go to Middlesbrough on the last day of the season having to look at fixtures around us."