Fulham have stepped up controversial plans to move in with west London rivals Chelsea after the Premier League ruled Loftus Road would need significant improvements to host top-flight football beyond next season.
Mohamed Al Fayed's club yesterday committed to Second Division QPR's ground for one further season and then revealed discussions with Chelsea over a ground-share from August 2004 were ongoing.
Fulham could move to Stamford Bridge if they have still not decided between a budget scheme to renovate Craven Cottage and building a new stadium on an as yet unidentified site.
The club's announcement that their tenure at Loftus Road would be extended by just 12 months came after the Premier League warned that some of the ground's facilities were not up to scratch.
A Premier League spokesman explained: "We said Fulham would have to make certain improvements if they were to stay there beyond next season, in order to fulfil the requirements of Premier League club stadia."
The obstacles between Fulham and a move to the Bridge are a planning rule - banning more than one team playing there - which would need to be overturned, and fierce objections expected from local residents.
Hammersmith and Fulham Borough Council press officer Kevin Batt said: "We haven't received a formal application for a ground-share at Stamford Bridge.
"However, we have had general discussions with Fulham and they know exactly what we would expect from them in an application."
Fulham supporters' pressure group 'Back to the Cottage' seized on the news about leaving Loftus Road to push for a return to the club's home of 107 years.
BTC spokesman Tom Greatrex said: "It's not surprising next season will be our last at Loftus Road as the Premier League said we can only use it for one more year as the facilities don't come up to League criteria.
"Something else has to happen - and that leaves it wide open for the possibility we're putting to them of going back to Craven Cottage."
BTC will reveal their cut-price scheme to renovate the Cottage - featuring seats bolted onto terraces and a stand by stand rebuilding plan - next month.
"We will unveil our plan for Craven Cottage at the Fulham Supporters' Trust launch meeting at Hammersmith Town Hall on May 6," added Greatrex.
"No-one from the club officially turned up at our last meeting but we will send an invite to this meeting to all the club directors. We hope someone will accept our invitation and attend.
"If the club are genuinely considering a cheaper option for the Cottage, we want to do anything and everything to help the club go back to our historic home."