Fulham given go-ahead for Cottage return

Fulham will kick off next season at Craven Cottage after local council officials approved the Londoners' £5 million scheme to…

Fulham will kick off next season at Craven Cottage after local council officials approved the Londoners' £5 million scheme to bring their outdated ground up to Premiership standards.

Chairman Mohamed Al Fayed is funding the budget revamp after axing a £100 million plan for a 30,000 state-of-the-art stadium because of escalating costs.

Builders will now move into Craven Cottage and bolt seats onto terraces, add roofing and install new floodlights, giving the ground a 22,000 capacity by August 2004.

Fulham have shared Loftus Road with Queens Park Rangers for the last two seasons.

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