Lengthy but well worth a read. GREETINGS AND thank you for joining me this afternoon for today’s sold-out match versus AFC Bournemouth! Congratulations are certainly in order to Bournemouth for their excellent start to the season and I would like to welcome all visiting supporters to Craven Cottage, where I know you’ll find our hospitality and matchday experience among the very best in the Premier League and in all of football. And I want to also welcome fans from the Jacksonville area in the U.S. who have made the trip to London for the Fulham-Jaguars double feature this weekend. For some in the Jacksonville travelling party, it’s their first visit to the capital and therefore their first experience here at the Cottage. Invariably, the feedback I get from firsttime visitors from Jacksonville when they make this trip is that the overall experience at Craven Cottage, from arrival through to the final whistle, becomes a major highlight of their visit and an instant lifetime memory. It’s a good reminder for me, and hopefully longtime Fulham supporters, that we should never take for granted the treasure we have here at Craven Cottage. It’s why we will see through the renovation of the Riverside Stand, with work targeted to begin in May so this remarkable venue will continue to serve generations of Fulham supporters and football fans in general while also providing spectacular new amenities for the neighbourhood. We are currently speaking with potential partners who will bring the Riverside Stand to life, with plans calling for a café, leisure and exercise facilities, roof garden and other features based on the council’s guidance that the new Riverside Stand must deliver amenities for residents and families on non-matchdays. Already we have been approached by celebrity chefs and Michelin-star restaurateurs to ensure such an experience, and we are close to appointing a contractor so that when it’s time to commence work, we will be ready. I wanted to touch on this early in my notes to once again emphasise to the Fulham community that I am committed to the renovation of the Riverside Stand and therefore a future for Craven Cottage as our traditional, spiritual and hallowed home ground. While I’ve tried to make this point clear over the past several years, and just earlier this month reiterated it in a letter to FA Council members in my offer to purchase Wembley Stadium, misunderstandings or doubts will occasionally surface. You can judge me by my actions, but until then, I ask you to take my word. And, to address Wembley Stadium, I have no regrets and wish nothing but a promising and rewarding future for the Football Association and the game in England. There may be a time when we revisit the opportunity, but no further consideration is possible until or unless there is unity within the English football community that privatisation of Wembley Stadium is the answer to the needs of grassroots football. The idea and my offer generated what appeared to be majority support, for which I am grateful. I’m just not sure anyone could feel good about the transaction if, say, 45 out of every 100 people were opposed or even had reservations. That would have generated a divisive and possibly endless debate, serving no one, where now at least there is dialogue on the best path forward for grassroots, and that can be healthy. I do thank Greg Clarke, Martin Glenn and the FA, as well as members of the FA Council, for their sincere consideration of my proposal. Should circumstances one day change, perhaps we can have a new conversation. What I know we can all agree on, at least if you’re reading this as a Fulham supporter, is our results one-fourth of the way through our return to the Premier League have been bitterly disappointing. However, we have a talented club built to battle and win at this level, and I’m encouraged at the news that our captain Tom Cairney is closing in on a full recovery from injury and return to the line-up. So, consider me a believer. Optimism also comes naturally knowing we have a Head Coach in Slaviša Jokanović who not only understands and appreciates the honour of representing Fulham, but also the past two seasons has found the right formula with his personnel to hit our stride in time for the holidays and a strong run in the second half of the campaign. That should give all of us comfort ahead of the international break next month, especially given it was at that point last season when we began our climb in the table toward eventual promotion. I know that was then and this is now, and this is the Premier League and not the Championship, but the road to the Play-Offs in the past two seasons was demanding and daunting nonetheless and we found our way. Slaviša’s record shows he has always led FFC admirably when the stakes are at their highest, and with 29 matches still to play in the league - three quarters of the campaign still ahead - I am sure the same will hold true this season. As for the sensational and fictional headlines related to Slaviša this week, I’m equal parts amused, astonished and disappointed. I ask you not to believe everything you read. Or, in this case, don’t believe anything you read. Despite our challenges early on, I am very proud of Marcus Bettinelli and Ryan Sessegnon becoming homegrown Fulham Academy players to make their Premier League debuts. Did you know Ryan’s goal last weekend at Cardiff City, his first in top-flight football, also made him the first player born this millennium to score in the Premier League? Ryan was also one of 10 athletes who were nominated for the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year award, an honour that speaks of his ability and character as well as it does on behalf of the continued brilliant work by Academy Director Huw Jennings and his staff. Marcus, meanwhile, earned welldeserved call-ups to the England national team by Gareth Southgate during the past two international breaks. What an honour for Marcus as well as his father Vic Bettinelli, who serves our Academy as our Goalkeeping Coach. Congratulations to the Bettinellis! A final tribute to our Academy, and a milestone moment at that, is due to Harvey Elliott. On 25th September, Harvey made Club history when he came on as a substitute in the Carabao Cup in our win at Millwall. At 15 years and 174 days, Harvey became our youngest-ever First Team player and thoroughly earned the privilege through hard work and taking advantage of the pathway opportunities made possible by our Academy. Well done, Harvey, and here’s to many more First Team appearances for Fulham Football Club. Before I close, I should also recognise Cyrus Christie and Joe Bryan who made their top-flight debuts this season. And off the pitch we can be very proud of two nominations for FFC at the forthcoming Football Business Awards on 22nd November in two supporter categories - Best Fan Engagement by a Club and Best Club and Supporters Group. Under our superb CEO Alistair Mackintosh, who himself will be awarded the 2017/18 CEO of the Year for last season’s campaign in the Championship at these awards (and is nominated for overall CEO of the Year 2017/18, which will be announced on the night), we have made it a priority to work very hard as a Club to be connected to and engaged with our fans. The Best Club and Supporters Group recognition is a testament to the positive ongoing dialogue Alistair insists upon between your Club and the Fulham Supporters’ Trust. Good luck to all in November! As we come together today to celebrate Premier League football, it’s important we never overlook the freedoms we enjoy that make afternoons like today possible. Because this is our last home match before Remembrance Sunday, we will take the opportunity today to honour those who sacrificed their lives in combat by holding a moment of reflection before kick-off, shortly after the bugler plays the Last Post. The occasion is all the more profound given that 2018 marks the centenary of the end of World War One, so I ask you to join me and all fans to briefly pause before the start of the match to reflect, think and thank those who gave everything they had. And to any guest attending today who has pledged his or her life in service to country, my sincere appreciation. On behalf of everyone at Fulham Football Club, I thank you for attending. Let’s have fun today and pick up three points. Come On You Whites! SHAHID KHAN CHAIRMAN
Bettinelli has just signed an extension to his contract. Wonder why Jokanovic hasn't signed his new contract that has been on the table for some time.
