New Fulham manager Felix Magath wants former boss Rene Meulensteen to stay on and coach
Posted Monday, February 17, 2014 by Dailystar.co.uk
FELIX MAGATH wants deposed Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen to stay on and help him as a coach.
I WANT YOU RENE: Magath is keen to keep ex-boss Meulensteen on his coaching staff
Ex-Bayern Munich boss Magath replaced the Dutchman, who won four of 17 games in charge, on Friday.
But yesterday a Fulham source insisted Meulensteen had not been axed and still has a future at Craven Cottage.
“No one’s been sacked,” said the source. “Felix is assessing and wants Rene to coach, but we’ll see.”
Whether Meulensteen - who was replaced after 75 days in charge - would be ready to work under Magath looks debatable.
The futures of assistant Ray Wilkins and technical director Ray Wilkins are also unclear.
“I have time now to work with the players and to prepare them for the next important game next Saturday,” said Magath after taking his first training session yesterday.
“We will talk about staff afterwards.
“I will talk with them then I will make my decision with [chief executive] Alistair Mackintosh.”
Magath, 60, has signed an 18-month contract at Fulham and has a reputation as a strict taskmaster.
He won the Bundesliga three times as a manager, most recently with Wolfsburg in 2009, and becomes the first German to manage in the Premier League.
AXED? Rene Meulensteen was relieved of the manager's job, but Fulham want him to stay on as a coach
Fulham are bottom of the table but Magath added: “12 games is enough to keep them in the Premier League.
“I am sure I can do it. I have done it some times before in Germany where I have taken over clubs in a similar position.
“I am very confident that I can do it once more.”
Meulensteen said on Friday: “I knew the owners were freaking out a little bit that there was the possibility of the club going down,” he said
“The way forward that we have discussed with the club was about longevity and in this case it is clearly an act of fear.
“I have not had a lot of time and people who came to the Manchester United and Liverpool games could see what I was trying to put in place.
“They have hit the panic button on emotion and fear - but hey ho, that’s football.”
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