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Fulham plan Cottage return
Fulham's future is still uncertain
Fulham have launched a bid to return to Craven Cottage for the start of next season.
The club announced their intentions to submit a planning application to Hammersmith and Fulham Council as soon as possible for temporary building works to commence.
The Premiership side have been ground-sharing with London neighbours QPR over the last two seasons while they search for a new home.
Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed told the club's website: "I am delighted to take this step towards fulfilling the fans' dearest wish to take us home, albeit temporarily.
"Like all Fulham fans I was bitterly disappointed when our plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium on the Craven Cottage site became impossible to achieve.
"I still believe that if we are to fulfil our long-term dreams of making Fulham a major force in football we need a larger stadium than it is possible to erect at the Cottage.
I am doing everything that I can to find a commercially viable long term solution
Mohamed Al Fayed
"I continue to be entirely dedicated to working towards that end.
"If planning permission is granted and this all works out I will of course keep my promise to those who have supported us at Loftus Road through the purchase of season tickets by giving them seating preferences back at the Cottage.
"I am doing everything that I can to find a commercially viable long-term solution."
Fulham fans are likely to welcome the news they are to return to their home since 1896, but the club have stressed it is only on a temporary basis and their long-term future lies elsewhere.
The club plan to refurbish the Cottage to bring the capacity up to 22,000.
In order to meet Premier League requirements they will put seating on the terraces in front of the Stevenage Road stand and at the Putney and Hammersmith ends of the ground.
Fulham left Craven Cottage in May 2002 to share with QPR while their stadium was redeveloped into a 30,000 all-seater.
But the plans were delayed by legal action from a group of residents and the redevelopment has now been deemed unworkable.
The club has opted to pursue a plot of land within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to build a new stadium but have so far been unable to do so.
Their deal with QPR comes to an end after the 2003-04 season and discussions with Chelsea to share their Stamford Bridge ground broke down in April.
Fulham's future is still uncertain
Fulham have launched a bid to return to Craven Cottage for the start of next season.
The club announced their intentions to submit a planning application to Hammersmith and Fulham Council as soon as possible for temporary building works to commence.
The Premiership side have been ground-sharing with London neighbours QPR over the last two seasons while they search for a new home.
Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed told the club's website: "I am delighted to take this step towards fulfilling the fans' dearest wish to take us home, albeit temporarily.
"Like all Fulham fans I was bitterly disappointed when our plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium on the Craven Cottage site became impossible to achieve.
"I still believe that if we are to fulfil our long-term dreams of making Fulham a major force in football we need a larger stadium than it is possible to erect at the Cottage.
I am doing everything that I can to find a commercially viable long term solution
Mohamed Al Fayed
"I continue to be entirely dedicated to working towards that end.
"If planning permission is granted and this all works out I will of course keep my promise to those who have supported us at Loftus Road through the purchase of season tickets by giving them seating preferences back at the Cottage.
"I am doing everything that I can to find a commercially viable long-term solution."
Fulham fans are likely to welcome the news they are to return to their home since 1896, but the club have stressed it is only on a temporary basis and their long-term future lies elsewhere.
The club plan to refurbish the Cottage to bring the capacity up to 22,000.
In order to meet Premier League requirements they will put seating on the terraces in front of the Stevenage Road stand and at the Putney and Hammersmith ends of the ground.
Fulham left Craven Cottage in May 2002 to share with QPR while their stadium was redeveloped into a 30,000 all-seater.
But the plans were delayed by legal action from a group of residents and the redevelopment has now been deemed unworkable.
The club has opted to pursue a plot of land within the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham to build a new stadium but have so far been unable to do so.
Their deal with QPR comes to an end after the 2003-04 season and discussions with Chelsea to share their Stamford Bridge ground broke down in April.
