Fulham’s plight demonstrates it’s impossible to apply the rules of business to football

Normally, in the capitalist world, whatever you invest yields a return. Not for Fulham, writes Chris Blackhurst

Floyd Ayite won promotion with Fulham last year, but a dozen new signings destabilised the team ethic (Getty)

On paper, by now, Fulham should be sitting comfortably in the middle of football’s Premier League table.

Instead, having spent more than £100m on 12 new players in the close season, after securing promotion, they find themselves relegated. And not just sent down fighting a hard, glorious battle to the end. Their demotion has been painful and humiliating to witness.

Last week, they were consigned to the Championship with five weeks still to go, having conceded an astonishing 76 goals, 17 more than fellow strugglers Burnley, Cardiff and the also-doomed Huddersfield. In 2019, Fulham have allowed in at least two goals every match.