Baresi uncertainty disrupts Fulham
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Your support makes all the difference.Fulham's trip to Bologna tonight has been overshadowed by new revelations over the future of Franco Baresi, the club's finances and a looming £7.5m lawsuit. Jean Tigana's side take on the Italians in the first leg of the Intertoto Cup final round, with a Uefa Cup place going to the winners.
On 1 June, Baresi left his position as Milan vice-president to become Fulham's director of football. Baresi had wanted a three-year deal, but was offered only a six-month probation by the chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed.
Then, in early June, Tigana complained that Baresi's role contradicted his own contract, which states he has overall responsibility for all football matters. Baresi's position was scrapped and he has been working without a job title.
The close relationship between Baresi and Al Fayed is believed to have soured, and it is unlikely the Italian will stay beyond the expiry of his probation on 1 December.
Baresi's hopes of securing a new deal have not been helped by Al Fayed's financial clampdown. The club completed their move for Bologna's Cameroon international defender Pierre Womé on Sunday, but the 23-year-old has only signed a one-year deal, thanks to Al Fayed's insistence on avoiding a repeat of the costly Steve Marlet situation, when the Frenchman, on a five-year deal worth £30,000 a week, flopped in front of goal.
The other worry is a row with Valencia over the botched transfer of John Carew. The Norwegian striker's £7.5m move collapsed last year when he failed a medical on his "jumper's knee" condition. But Fulham had agreed the deal subject to a medical, a process which breaks the rules of football's world governing body, Fifa. So Valencia's lawyers have started proceedings against Fulham in the Spanish courts.
The main team news for tonight concerns Steve Finnan, who is still out with a twisted ankle and is also expected to miss the Premiership opener on Saturday against Bolton.
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