Roy Hodgson has slammed Fulham fans who criticise owner Mohamed Al Fayed for not splashing the cash in pursuit of silverware. The Cottagers have established themselves as a solid Premier League side over the last few seasons and are currently 10th in the table.

Hodgson believes Fulham supporters need to get a sense of perspective.

"We were lucky - we had a sugar daddy, a man who was prepared to come in and put money into the club and help us," he said.

"But in recent years, certainly while I've been here, we've tried to run the club sensibly as a business.

"We are greatly indebted to Mohamed Al Fayed for all the money he has put in and the support he has given us but occasionally now you see letters from fans saying he should invest more and throw more money in and I can't believe the ingratitude.

"There we were a few years ago just about to go out of the Football League, here we are stable in the Premier League. I'd hate to see this club going the way some clubs have gone recently."