Co-owner Tony Khan apologised to Fulham supporters after the club’s woeful start to the season, although Scott Parker was frustrated he criticised the performance as Aston Villa beat the Cottagers 3-0 on Monday.
The west London outfit have lost their opening three league games – conceding 10 goals in the process.
Only West Brom (this season) have ever conceded more in their opening three games of a Premier League campaign, with Khan taking to Twitter after the defeat by Dean Smith’s side.
Full-backs Antonee Robinson and Kenny Tete were the only permanent summer arrivals in Parker’s squad against Villa, while goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was one of three loan signings who were included in the matchday selection.
“We’ve looked to add centre-backs since Wembley,” Khan explained.
“I’m sorry we haven’t [signed any] yet as two got COVID-19, we lost a free we thought was close and had another issue with a fourth centre-back.
“I should and will apologise repeatedly for that performance. I’m sorry everybody. We all need to do a better job.
“Everyone at the club for the past year worked really hard to get the team up and now we need to work significantly harder to stay up. I promise better efforts than today.”
Manager Parker was quizzed on Khan’s comments during a press conference on Tuesday and admitted that, while he cannot stop an owner doing as he pleases, he was ‘disappointed’ by Khan’s apology for the performance.
“I think obviously I said it last night,” said Parker. “People have the platform. You own a football club, you can decide how you want to communicate or send a message out.
“It’s not something I agree with, it’s not helpful from that sense but like I said that’s down to the owner and how he sees it.
“There’s one thing that I’m disappointed with and that’s how he’s actually apologising for the performance and that is something that I don’t agree with and he shouldn’t have.
“The performance last night was a good performance which was a group of players who have done everything they can, worked tirelessly from the first minute to the 95.
“At 3-0 down they were still trying work as much as they can to try and get us back in the game and for that I don’t agree with him.
“I’ll be the first to have an issue with my squad and my team and my players if I felt that that was something which needed to be criticised. So I have an issue with that and obviously that’s something which I don’t agree with.
“The other bits, it is what it is and I think we understand our challenges this year and the rest is noise.”
Parker admitted following the game his side needed to address their shortcomings, but said he did not know whether any players would be joining in the coming days.
“Honestly I don’t know,” the Cottagers manager said. “It’s got to the point where I just want to focus on the team really.
“The transfer window as been open for some time and I can’t control that. I can’t control who we’re going to get and who we’re not going to get. I can give an opinion.
“We’ve now only a few days left of it and we are where we are. So I don’t want to lose sight of what I have to do with the team and lose energy elsewhere. We’re in the market of course we are, but we was in the market a few days after Wembley when we went into this league.
“The people in those areas are trying their hardest and hopefully we can get some help.”
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By: seangallagher
Title: Tony Khan’s apology to Fulham fans after Aston Villa defeat ‘disappoints’ manager Scott Parker, as owner makes transfer promise
Sourced From: talksport.com/football/766532/fulham-khan-vow-signings-parker-role/
Published Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2020 14:03:42 +0000
