Fulham still looking for home

Fulham are still without a home ground for the 2004/05 season after confirming talks with arch London rivals Chelsea had broken down.

Cash-strapped Fulham, who have stalled on plans to redevelop their own Craven Cottage ground, are currently sharing at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road stadium in west London.

But they are only due to stay there for one more season after Premier League chiefs ruled that the Second Division side's ground would need major redevelopment work in order to host top-flight football beyond 2004.

This led Fulham to re-start talks with nearby Chelsea over a short team ground-sharing deal.

But the talks broke up without agreement and a Fulham spokesman said: "We're disappointed negotiations have broken down. We've established a very good relationship with Chelsea and were confident we could do business for a short-term groundshare, which would have benefited both clubs."

On Monday Fulham, who are owned by Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al Fayed, also the owner of London's Harrods department store, announced record annual losses of 33.6 million pounds (53.4 million dollars).

Among the options open to Fulham are a reduced price redevelopment of Craven Cottage, build a brand new ground or share with another team, possibley at West Ham's Upton Park ground in east London.

Tom Greatrex, a spokesman for the 'Back to the Cottage' pressure group which is urging a retrn to Fulham's home of 107 years, said: "Stamford Bridge is Chelsea's home ground and Craven Cottage should be Fulham's.

"We know that, if the club had the will, it is possible to return to Craven Cottage with a simpler redevelopment proposal and with the support of the local authority.

"We hope those in positions of authority at the club recognise the damage long-term groundsharing will do and submit plans to enable us to return to our historic home."