Transfer Tattle: Kinnear badgering board

After weeks of nagging Mike Ashley for brass, Joe Kinnear seems no closer to actually getting the pennies he needs to strengthen the threadbare squad. Cue a combination of guilt trip and reality check sent to the hierarchy by JFK:

"I`ve spent more time spelling it out to them than any other manager. I`ve had to paint the gravity of the situation. There`s no ifs and buts . . . things have to be done. People think things will turn out OK whatever happens, but I don`t believe they will.

I tell them: 'We`re not prepared for anything like the disaster we face and you`ve got to realise the importance of that`. People have said that previous managers maybe didn`t get what they want. I don`t believe that will happen to me.

Fulham got out of jail last year with 36 points. This year it might be 38, but probably 40. Then you`ve got to look at the teams we`ve got left to play: Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Man United. We have the hardest finish of any of the clubs in the survival battle.

We have to make sure that we are near safety before the last six games, we have to have around 38 or 40 points before those games. We would be borderline with the existing squad. But if everybody`s back fit, it`s realistic because we`ll be stronger than the teams down there already."

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