Fulham want manager in Moyes mould

Fulham last night said they need to find "the next David Moyes" after telling Jean Tigana that his £2m-a-year contract as manager will not be renewed in June.

The Frenchman, who has endured a difficult relationship with his chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, will see out the final seven games of the season. His assistants, Christian Damiano ­ who left the French academy at Clarefontaine to join Tigana ­ and the fitness coach Roger Propos, will also leave.

The Premiership club made it clear that they intend to recruit a "young, British track-suited manager" in the mould of Moyes, who has been highly successful at Everton, whom he joined last season from First Division Preston North End.

Ironically, the most appropriate candidate is Leicester City's Micky Adams ­ who was sacked by Fayed to make way for Kevin Keegan six years ago. Although Adams has remained popular with Fulham fans, it appears unlikely that he would leave Leicester at this stage, despite their continuing financial problems.

Other candidates are thought to be Nottingham Forest's Paul Hart and Reading's Alan Pardew, both also chasing promotion to the Premiership. One drawback with all three is the issue of compensation ­ which is why Mick McCarthy was the preferred candidate until he joined Sunderland. George Burley and David O'Leary, both unemployed, have also been mentioned. "We need someone with a bit of a track record of bringing on younger players and who can work within a limited budget. Like other clubs in the Premier League we want the next David Moyes," said a senior source at the club.

Whoever takes the job will face a tough task. Fayed, although he will make some money available, will expect players to go and will want to reduce his costs, having spent £43m on transfers in two years. Players closely associated with Tigana ­ such as Sylvain Legwinski, Steed Malbranque, Martin Djetou and Steve Marlet ­ are unlikely to stay.

There is also the concern over where Fulham will be playing. They have to leave Queen's Park Rangers' ground, Loftus Road, which they share, after next season and have failed so far with plans to build a new stadium. The most likely option is a return to their former home Craven Cottage as part of the financial cut-backs.

In a personal letter to the manager, reproduced on the club's website, www.fulhamfc.co.uk, Fayed revealed his frustration over the amount of money he feels he has spent. He wrote: "I have never doubted your abilities as a coach and, equally, do recognise that there have been many achievements during your time at the club of which you can rightly be proud.

"Obviously, our position in the Premier League both this year and last year has been disappointing, particularly given the degree of investment and resources provided, and I am sure you would be the first to agree."

Fulham finished 13th last season after being runaway champions of the First Division in Tigana's first season in charge and, although they reached the FA Cup semi-final and secured a place in the Uefa Cup through the Intertoto competition, have flirted with relegation this season.

Fayed, also, has proved a difficult man to please, especially at a club which, in its 100 years of existence, has never won a major trophy and which had not been in the top flight for four decades.

The timing of the announcement is awkward as Fulham are not yet safe from relegation and have a tough run of games before the end of the season.

Some players have already voiced their concern over the manager's position and questioned whether they will want to continue at Fulham without him. However, Tigana, 46, has been pushing for a decision for some weeks having finally stated publicly that he wanted to stay. "It is an amicable split," the source said, "and Jean is a consummate professional who will give his all until the end of the season."