Fulham's £5.4m Cottage revamp

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The club are spending more than £5.4million refurbishing parts of the historic ground, with work already under way and scheduled to be completed in July.

They are turning the stadium they first used in 1896 into a 22,000 capacity all-seat arena with each side covered and new executive boxes installed.

The famous cottage in the corner of the ground, which houses the changing rooms, is also getting an internal makeover and everything should be ready in time for two preseason friendlies in the summer.

The cost of the work was a major factor in the decision to sell star striker Louis Saha to Manchester United for £12.8m in January and chief executive Jim Hone said: "Our return to Craven Cottage is a mouthwatering prospect.

"Everyone associated with the club looks forward with great anticipation to our team playing once again in an atmospheric stadium we can call our own."

The return has been long-awaited by supporters, many of whom have not enjoyed groundsharing with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road for the last two years.

There is a substantial number who want to make Craven Cottage their permanent home but Mohamed Fayed is determined to build a new 30,000-seat arena in the area.

Fulham plan to remain at the ground for the next three years while they pursue that ambition but Hone claimed they may be able to get permission to stay for longer.

He said: "The approval we have been granted to return to the Cottage is not limited to three years

"Our plan is to remain at the stadium until we achieve our ambition to relocate to a new home elsewhere within the borough with capacity for at least 30,000 supporters, which I believe to be the minimum number consistent with the long-term success of the club."

Meanwhile, Maik Taylor today said it was good to feel wanted again after Fulham agreed a £1.5m deal to sell him to Birmingham. The Northern Ireland goalkeeper has signed a fouryear contract and said: "Fulham went down the road of signing Edwin van der Sar which restricted my options. It was great to come to a place where you feel wanted."