Fulham reject Chelsea move

Fulham have turned down the option of a long-term tenure at Stamford Bridge, but they have kept the door open for a temporary move.

The club were offered a permanent tenancy by the Chelsea chief executive Ken Bates a fortnight ago but rejected the proposed groundshare, which would have seen Fulham buy into Chelsea Village plc.

Bates and his Fulham counterpart, Mohamed Al Fayed, discussed the 9.9 per cent purchase – the highest proportion Premier League rules will allow – and the permanent share of Stamford Bridge a fortnight ago at a Harrods lunch. The £15m scheme would have included Fulham taking out a 25-year lease and having their own changing area, board room and commercial facilities.

Fayed has not ruled out a temporary arrangement in the near future should it be necessary.

Steve Lomas is out of West Ham's relegation fight for the rest of the year after the club captain's injury problems returned.

The Northern Ireland international midfielder has damaged ankle ligaments after a shuddering tackle with Lee Bowyer in the defeat by Leeds United and scans have revealed the extent of the problem.

The combative Lomas faces six to eight weeks out of the team, a further crippling blow for manager Glenn Roeder in his hour of need.