Fulham appoints Magath as new manager

Ruthless Fulham have announced former Bayern Munich coach, Felix Magath, as Rene Meulensteen’s replacement – even though the Dutchman is still at the relegation-threatened club.
Humiliated Meulensteen is still under contract and has not been dismissed from the club.
It is understood Fulham still value him as a coach – the role he was hired for in mid-November before succeeding Martin Jol in December – but believe he lacks the authority and the nous to continue as the top man.
Meulensteen is now expected to agree a pay-off after a reign of just 75 days.
Technical Director, Alan Curbishley, only appointed on Christmas Eve, is also set for talks but could stay.
US tycoon Khan, who has been in the country all week, took action after Wednesday’s defeat to Liverpool in which Fulham led twice only to be beaten.
It was learnt that Meulensteen has ignored advice to work on the team’s defence during his short reign – Fulham have shipped 37 goals over his 17 games in charge.
Concerns have also been expressed about his man-management with some senior players understood to have been annoyed at being told on the day of games that they were not starting.
Meulensteen, who lasted only 16 days in charge at Anzhi Makhachkala last August, went on: “I couldn’t care less what they put in the statement, to be honest.
“I knew the owners were freaking out a little bit that there was the possibility of the club going down. The way forward that we discussed with the club was about longevity and in this case it is clearly an act of fear.
“I have not had a lot of time and people who came to the Manchester United and Liverpool games could see what I was trying to put in place.”
It is believed Khan moved for Magath, who has signed an 18-month deal, because he feared the highly-decorated German would have other offers that he would accept.
Magath, 60, lifted the Double in consecutive seasons with Bayern and the German title at Wolfsburg, with whom he parted company two years ago.
But he has previously been nicknamed ‘The Last Dictator in Europe’ and “Saddam” because of his controversial hard-line training methods.
During his time at Wolfsburg, Magath is said to have had the players running through the woods on one occasion.
When they were finished, they found Magath had allegedly emptied their water bottles on purpose as an “educational measure.”