Fulham insisted today that both their manager and owner will be in place next season as they look to build on their success in Europe.
Speculation has been rife that the future of boss Roy Hodgson lies elsewhere following last night's 2-1 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Europa League Final in Hamburg.
Liverpool are believed to have been impressed by the results the newly- crowned manager of the year has achieved with relatively little money.
But Fulham director Michael Cole said today that he is confident Hodgson will stay despite fears voiced by goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and midfielder Simon Davies that he may quit.
Cole said: "Roy Hodgson is integral to the club, he is everything to do with the club. He enjoys the total confidence of the chairman, Mohamed Fayed, and I am sure that confidence is entirely mutual. He is a great manager and as Mr Fayed says himself, he is more than a manager, he is a great human being and we are very proud to have Roy.
"We do think he will stay, it would be extraordinary if he chose to go somewhere else because, essentially at Fulham, he says he has what every manager wants. He has a free hand and he has the confidence of the chairman. They talk regularly and get on extra-ordinarily well and, by and large, he gets the support he requires."
Hodgson, who is only on a one-year rolling contract, was still hurting today following last night's crushing defeat which came courtesy of Diego Forlan's winning goal five minutes from the end of extra-time.
Asked if he would be staying at Fulham, Hodgson maintained he had no plans to go anywhere else, but left the door open to approaches from other clubs.
He said: "There has never been any question about my future. I know there will be speculation, people will speculate but I have nothing to say and I have had no contact with anyone.
Read More
"It is speculation and at the moment I am intending to continue as I have been doing. I am planning to be here [at the club] and my contract takes me into next season. No one has told me that they don't want me to stay so I hope that is still the case."
Cole also confirmed that Fayed would be remaining as Fulham's owner. The club's directors held a meeting before yesterday's final in Germany at which plans for the future following Fayed's £1.5billion sale of Harrods were being discussed.
"Mohamed Fayed carried out a brilliant deal for Harrods," Cole told Sky Sports News. "There is some regret that he is selling but he has improved the shop. 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.
"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."
