HAVE IT OUT Fulham caretaker boss Parker to have 'hard talks' over future at end of season

Scott Parker believes a ‘hard conversation’ over his Fulham future lies ahead – but not while the club is in the middle of a relegation dogfight.

The caretaker boss has said he is already making long-term plans at Craven Cottage as Fulham look destined for a return to the Championship.

The Cottagers are 13 points adrift of safety, with seven games to play ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Manchester City.

A defeat to City followed by a loss at Watford on Tuesday could see their relegation confirmed next week should other results go against them, but former England midfielder Parker insists Fulham will not give up the fight.

“At the present moment in time my focus is every game as it comes,” said Parker.

“We’re coming out of a tough, tough season, and when the dust settles we’ll have a hard conversation and work out where the rights and wrongs were really.

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“But from my point of view it’s out of my control at this present time, and the only thing I can do is give a good impression, and leave a mark.

“And I said it at the start as well, I’m treating this as a long-term role, in the sense that I was here a long time as a player, and now I’m back I believe in what I’m doing, what I’m trying to create, and at the end of it we’ll see where it takes us.

“But ultimately I want to leave this club in a better place than I found it.

“There have been conversations about next season, and that’s because clubs are planning now for pre-season, for signings.

“I’m involved in those conversations, so ultimately we’ll see where that takes us.

“We all know and understand where we are (on relegation) but at the same time, one result can springboard.

“So while it’s still possible we’ll fight and drive as much as we can to finish the season on a high.”

Parker replaced Claudio Ranieri at the end of February, but the Cottagers have lost all three matches since.

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