John Collins won't join Fulham

Fulham have denied rumours that they are lining up John Collins as a replacement for Roy Hodgson should the Premiership side face relegation to the Championship this season.

A letter from the club solicitor Stuart Benson on the official club site read:

"The article claims that John Collins looks likely to replace Roy Hodgson and that Mr Collins will be meeting Fulham's chairman, Mohamed Al Fayed, during the course of the current week to discuss taking over as manager.

"The article is wholly and utterly false; indeed I can only assume that it represents pure invention given that there are and have been no plans either to replace Roy Hodgson, or to have any discussion whatsoever with Mr Collins.

“Nor is there any wish or intent to have a discussion with John Collins. No discussions with him have taken place, nor will be taking place and no meeting between him and Mr Al Fayed is planned.

"I can only assume that this fictitious story is deliberately intended to destabilise the club at a critical time as the season reaches its conclusion. And as such it is malicious, and any repetition will be the subject of proceedings."