Michael Jackson statue set to be removed from Fulham stadium Craven Cottage at Mohamed Al Fayed's request

The former Cottagers owner wants to take the statue to another of his properties

Mohamed Al Fayed unveils a statue in tribute to Michael Jackson (GETTY IMAGES)

The Michael Jackson statue installed at Craven Cottage by former Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed is set to be removed.

It appears the former Cottagers owner, who sold the club during the summer to American Shahid Khan, has decided he wants to take the tribute to his former friend to one of his other properties.

The statue was installed in 2011 to commemorate the Thriller singer who Fayed insisted was a fan of the Thames side team (despite only being spotted in SW6 once).

Michael Jackson pictured at Craven Cottage in 1999 (GETTY IMAGES)

However, the decision to install it at the back of the Hammersmith Stand inside the grounds of Craven Cottage was met with ridicule by many supporters of Fulham.

Fayed paid little attention, telling anyone who didn't like the statue, which includes an inscription from Dickson Etuhu and Jackson lyrics, to "go to hell".

Not all Fulham fans disliked the tribute though, with some seeing the entertaining and eccentric side to its instalment.

A Fulham spokesperson said: "The statue is not part of the Riverside development of the stadium and will be returned to the former chairman in due course."

The decision of Fayed to take the statue, rather than it be be removed by the new owners, will come as a relief to Khan after Fayed threatened to chop his moustache off if he did.

Shahid Khan (GETTY IMAGES)