Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed has responded to former manager Mark Hughes' claims that the club lacked ambition during his tenure at Craven Cottage.
Hughes, who left the Whites in June, said yesterday that the West London outfit failed to match his hopes for the club.
However, Al Fayed has refuted that statement, branding Hughes a "strange man".
"What a strange man Mark Hughes is. Sacked by Manchester City, he was becoming a forgotten man when I rescued him to become manager of Fulham," Al Fayed wrote in an open letter to the club's supporters.
"Even when results were bad, I did not put pressure on him. I gave him every support - financial, moral and personal.
"He fully negotiated a two-year extension to his contract. On the day he was due to sign, he walked out without the courtesy of a proper explanation."
The chairman also revealed that the club's current boss, Martin Jol, had always been his first choice to take charge.
"And now he insults the club, saying it lacks ambition, and the players who delivered an 8th position finish last season and a place in the Europa League," he added.
"In every aspect of its work, Fulham is a progressive club with a top manager in Martin Jol, the man we had really wanted when Hughes was appointed."
Fulham currently sit one place above the relegation zone after nine matches.
Liam Apicella
