RUMOUR: Clarke to Fulham

[Nameless]

He could have had no intention of going, but just kept asking them for more to see when they would crack.
I'm betting it was when he said he wanted a bowl of blue smarties within 3 feet of his right hand at all times that they said 'too much' having agreed to the 10 million salary, private Lear jet, sedan chair to carry him from the Cottage to the dugout, Thai masseuse on call 24 hours a day and Craven Cottage to be renamed Stamford Bridge 2.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Difference, Pards was an absolute A....E. he even said he was still manager of READING, when he already signed for wh,
Clarke told the truth all along, at least give him ab it of credit for that,

Never did get my bloody shirt back from pards

[paddy20]

Difference, Pards was an absolute A....E. he even said he was still manager of READING, when he already signed for wh,
Clarke told the truth all along, at least give him ab it of credit for that,

Never did get my bloody shirt back from pards

Adkins borrowed my book but never got it back!

[Nameless]

Brendan still has my watch....

[maffff]

Brendan still has my big book of tactics.

[Hampshire Royal]

He could have had no intention of going, but just kept asking them for more to see when they would crack.
I'm betting it was when he said he wanted a bowl of blue smarties within 3 feet of his right hand at all times that they said 'too much' having agreed to the 10 million salary, private Lear jet, sedan chair to carry him from the Cottage to the dugout, Thai masseuse on call 24 hours a day and Craven Cottage to be renamed Stamford Bridge 2.

I'm always very dubious when stories are printed in the press and there are no quotes other than from 'A Fulham Source'.

I think that you've hit the nail on the head about Clarke wanting a Thai masseuse. During a break in the interview, a source close to both clubs said that "Clarke telephoned Reading and asked about the possibility of a Thai masseuse. Bearing in mind Reading are owned by Thais, he was asked 'How many?'". This, my source says, is the real reason Clarke stayed at Reading.

[wiggso]

I'm betting it was when he said he wanted a bowl of blue smarties within 3 feet of his right hand at all times .

No apparently it was one thousand brown M&Ms to fill a brandy glass.

[Z175]

Obviously all media stories come with a large pinch of salt. But according to BBC Berkshire the BBC did ring up Fulham and were told they would not be wrong that Steve Clarke would be the man being unveiled at their planned press conference.

So it must have been a lot closer than just high level talks. Which probably makes the "honest" stories published by Reading and Clarke all lies.

Judas #3.

[Armadillo Roadkill]

Reading's leadership are pretty good at PR and spinning the press. So for Howe to be quite so open and frank about Clarke suggests (to me at least) that he has seriously undermined trust. Clarke having a quick chat and giving a "no thank" probably would not be enough to get the Club to so openly rebuke him.
I'd have thought Reading must have thought it was a done deal only to see it collapse.

[maffff]

(Turn around)
Every now and then
Fulham get a little bit lonely
That you're never coming round

(Turn around)
Every now and then
we get a little bit tired
Of listening to reasons why say you're still here

(Turn around)
Every now and then
we get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by

(Turn around)
Every now and then we get a little bit terrified
And then we see you on the motorway
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
Every now and then we fall apart
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
Every now and then
We fall apart

(Turn around)
Every now and then
you get a little bit restless
And you dream of something "mindblowing"
(Turn around)
Every now and then
we get a little bit restless
of you saying it was not about money
(Turn around)
Every now and then
we get a little bit angry
And we start saying "Clarke Out"
(Turn around)
Every now and then
we get a little bit terrified
As we see you head for the motorway
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
Every now and then
we fall apart
Turn around, Steve Clarke
Every now and then
we fall apart

And you need to win tonight
And you need to more than ever
And if you bring on Jake Cooper
We'll be holding on forever
And we need to keep it tight
'Cause we need to be strong
"Together" McCleary says can get us over the line
Our club is as a part of us all of the time
(All of the time)
We don't know what to do and we're always in the dark
We're tweeting out frustrations and giving off sparks
We really need you tonight
Fulham won't happen tonight
(Fulham won't happen tonight)

Once upon a time
We were falling in love
But now we're only falling apart
There's nothing we can do
Steve Clarke broke our heart

Once upon a time there was light in our life
But now there's only love in the dark
Nothing we can say
Steve Clarke broke our heart

[Instrumental Interlude]

(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)

(Turn around)
Every now and then
We know you'll never be the manager
You always wanted to be
(Turn around)
But every now and then
We know you'll always be the manager
Who wanted the money from Fulham
(Turn around)
Every now and then
We know there's no one in the universe
As deceitful and deceptive as you
(Turn around)
Every now and then
We know there's nothing any better
There's nothing that we just wouldn't do
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
Every now and then we fall apart
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
Every now and then we fall apart

And you need to win tonight
And you need to more than ever
And if you bring on Jake Cooper
We'll be holding on forever
And we need to keep it tight
'Cause we need to be strong
"Together" McCleary says can get us over the line
Our club is as a part of us all of the time
(All of the time)
We don't know what to do and we're always in the dark
We're tweeting out frustrations and giving off sparks
We really need you tonight
Fulham won't happen tonight
(Fulham won't happen tonight)

Once upon a time
We were falling in love
But now we're only falling apart
There's nothing we can do
Steve Clarke broke our heart

Once upon a time
We were falling in love
But now we're only falling apart
There's nothing we can do
Steve Clarke broke our heart

Steve Clarke broke our heart
Steve Clarke broke our heart
(Turn Around, Steve Clarke
Turn Around, Steve Clarke)
(Turn around)

[JIM]

Who is going to put that lot on the big screen at half time ?

[strap]

I think you have to take any media claim of what the actual reasons were with a massive grain of salt.

It could be that he wanted to take his backroom staff and Fulham refused.
It could be that he wanted more money.
It could be that he wasn't happy with the amount of control he'd have over signings.
It could be he tried to screw them for more money.
It could be he was genuinely happy here and their deal would have had to have been amazing to make him move.
Or it could be none of them.

We'll probably never know, so not much point speculating. The only thing that matters is it happened and we have to see what happens next.

You're so right Ian, we will never know the full truth. Still, we'll still be here long after that charlatan's oxf*rd off to pastures new. And I'd wager we'd still be supporting RFC if we spun out of control and ended up back in Div 4 (or worse) - such is the lot of the genuine club supporter!

[One8Seven1*]

Reading's leadership are pretty good at PR and spinning the press. So for Howe to be quite so open and frank about Clarke suggests (to me at least) that he has seriously undermined trust. Clarke having a quick chat and giving a "no thank" probably would not be enough to get the Club to so openly rebuke him.
I'd have thought Reading must have thought it was a done deal only to see it collapse.

When we went down from the Premiership with McDermott, the club hired a 'spin doctor' around March time, I believe just for a short period, but I assume by then Madejski et all knew the mess we were in and they needed to cover it in glitter to keep the fans as on side as they could, considering the nagativity that relegation brings.

[floyd__streete]

When we went down from the Premiership with McDermott, the club hired a 'spin doctor' around March time

Adkins

[Royal Lady]

If he was happy here and loyal to us, he wouldn't even have spoken to Fulham. He'd have said thanks but no thanks. Ergo, he was looking to get away, possibly for more money - therefore, if someone else comes in with the right offer, he'll be off. And he talks about loyalty. Pffft.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Blinky blimey.....who knew?

[Ian Royal]

I think you have to take any media claim of what the actual reasons were with a massive grain of salt.

It could be that he wanted to take his backroom staff and Fulham refused.
It could be that he wanted more money.
It could be that he wasn't happy with the amount of control he'd have over signings.
It could be he tried to screw them for more money.
It could be he was genuinely happy here and their deal would have had to have been amazing to make him move.
Or it could be none of them.

We'll probably never know, so not much point speculating. The only thing that matters is it happened and we have to see what happens next.

You're so right Ian, we will never know the full truth. Still, we'll still be here long after that charlatan's oxf*rd off to pastures new. And I'd wager we'd still be supporting RFC if we spun out of control and ended up back in Div 4 (or worse) - such is the lot of the genuine club supporter!

TBH I'd probably sack it off as not worth the travel money and loss of an entire day of the weekend. If I want shit football I can watch Cambridge without the £30 - £50 railfare. I'd still follow obviously.

[paultheroyal]

I can hear them drums again...

[Pepe the Horseman]

Wouldn't surprise me. Worth a fiver at 16/1.

[Lacoste]

I haven't seen or heard anything, Paul.

Tell us more.