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    LONDON, England -- Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez has been given the task of keeping Fulham in the English Premier League, after the sacking of Chris Coleman. Sanchez has been asked to take charge for the last five matches of the season, after Fulham slipped to 15th in the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone. It will no easy task. Fulham, who travel to Reading on Saturday, will also have to face Champions League spot chasers Arsenal and Liverpool in their remaining games. Fulham, who also dismissed Coleman's assistant Steve Kean, praised their departing coach, who replaced Jean Tigana in 2003. "Chris Coleman has provided fantastic service during his 10 years at the club and it is disappointing that the club has no alternative but to part company," the statement said. "As a team and organization Fulham Football Club has goals to attain and success to achieve and by no means can this be compromised." The 36-year-old Coleman, a former Welsh international, joined Fulham as a player in 1997 but his career was cut short by a car crash in 2001. Fulham lost 3-1 to Manchester City at Craven Cottage on Monday, their fifth defeat in a winless eight-match streak. Coleman and the Cottagers were booed as the players trudged off. Sanchez, who has steered Northern Ireland to the top of their European Championship qualifying group, will manage Fulham on a caretaker basis until the end of the season. He has led Northern Ireland for the past three years, in which time they have defeated Spain, Sweden and England, and they are now ahead of Spain, Sweden and Denmark in their Euro qualifying group. The Irish Football Association expect Sanchez to stay, and the manager has confirmed that he intends to see out his contract with the national side. IFA chief executive Howard Wells told the BBC: "He has given a commitment to me with regards to seeing out his contract with Northern Ireland. "Fulham have also given a commitment to me this is an appointment for the remaining five matches until the end of the season." Sanchez, however, might consider managing both club and country if his short spell at Fulham is successful and they avoid relegation. He is clear of international commitments until August when Northern Ireland restart their qualifying campaign against Liechtenstein at Windsor Park. Wells said: "If circumstances change they (Fulham) will want to discuss things further with us." Former Northern Ireland assistant coach Gerry Armstrong, speaking to Sky Sports News, said: "Lawrie is a great candidate for the job and he's worthy of the opportunity which he's worked towards for the last few years. "He's the man to keep them up,definitely. Big question"The big question will come at the end of the season - whether Fulham make him an offer, whether that will affect Northern Ireland or whether he will have to choose between the two." Sanchez, the son of an Ecuadorian father and Irish mother, had his greatest moment as a player when he scored the goal that gave Wimbledon their 1-0 victory over Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final. When he takes Fulham to Reading on Saturday he will be returning to his first league club, where he played from 1977-1984. He made three appearances for Northern Ireland, having turned down the chance to represent Ecuador because of traveling difficulties. In his first managerial post he took Wycombe Wanderers, of the Second Division, to the 2001 FA Cup semifinals, where they lost 2-1 to Liverpool. After a poor start to the 2003-04 campaign he resigned but was appointed to the Northern Ireland job in January 2004, in succession to Sammy McIlroy. |
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Coleman took over at Fulham from Frenchman Jean Tigana in 2003.
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