John Collins has put himself in the reckoning to succeed Jean Tigana as manager of the Fulham when the Frenchman's contract expires this summer. Cottagers chairman Mohamed Al Fayed yesterday announced Tigana will not be offered a two-season contract extension when his three-year deal expires on June 30.
With Fulham readying themselves to draw up a short-list of new candidates for the job, 35-year-old Fulham midfielder Collins has made it clear he would like to be considered. The former Hibernian, Celtic, Monaco and Everton player - who has been frozen out under Tigana - believes a career in coaching could be for him.
Collins' agent Raymond Sparkes said: "If Al Fayed wants to see John to talk about it I know he'll give thought to that. John has a plan for him and his family after this summer, which may or may not involve continuing playing. That will only change if something dramatic happens. He has a thought in his mind - but the door has been left open for the right managerial or playing opportunity.
"He has not been waiting with baited breath for yesterday's news about Tigana, so it is not a case of his Plan B coming into action. This is not a `Eureka moment' for John. But it remains to be seen what Fulham decide to do, and John's mind is open to every eventuality."
Fulham's list of candidates, to be drawn up by chief executive Bruce Langham, is expected to centre on managers with profiles akin to ex-Ipswich manager George Burley - who yesterday admitted he would be interested in the job - current Reading boss Alan Pardew and Leicester's former Fulham boss Micky Adams. That effectively rules out bookmakers' favourite David O'Leary as well as fellow ex-Leeds manager Terry Venables.
Harrods' supremo Al Fayed, who took the extraordinary step publishing Tigana's termination letter on his club's website, poured more than £100million of his personal fortune into Fulham before announcing a wave of financial cutbacks earlier this year. The club claim significant tightening of the purse strings will be reflected in the identity of their new manager.
Filed by Johnny Proby
