Jol gets keys to manage Fulham

London: Martin Jol was sitting in Mohammad Al Fayed's Park Lane residence, chatting away after agreeing to become Fulham manager, when the club's charismatic owner stretched out a hand.

"Here's the key to Fulham," said Al Fayed. The gesture delighted the Dutchman. It meant Al Fayed trusted him with his beloved Fulham, that he would leave him in peace to reshape the team however he chose.

It meant everything to Jol after his experience at Tottenham with the more hands-on involvement of chairman Daniel Levy and the then director of football, Damien Comolli. Jol speaks warmly of Levy, less so of Comolli. "I said to Daniel when I came to England: ‘If you leave me alone, let me work for you, they will push you around the streets of London like a king'. And they never did that [leave him alone]."

Different

Al Fayed and Levy are hardly similar. "Daniel was different! We call them sugar uncles in Holland. Al Fayed is not a sugar uncle. They were people who were owning the club and you had to meet with them every week. Al Fayed is different. He does not interfere."

At Spurs, player recruitment was clearly a multi-pronged approach. The main disagreement arose in 2006 when Comolli claimed to have found the perfect replacement for the Manchester United-bound Michael Carrick and presented Jol with Didier Zokora.

Having stressed he had "no hard feelings" towards Comolli, the 55-year-old reflected on the embarrassing episode in 2007 when Spurs were caught wooing Juande Ramos while Jol was still in situ. "That was a bit strange to say the least. Comolli came up with Ramos. That was in July." Jol was eventually dismissed in October. "Comolli was responsible for most of the football things. With Ramos they probably had an indifferent spell but after that with Harry [Redknapp] it was great again."

Director of football

Redknapp swiftly dispensed with the director of football concept. "I won't lie — I didn't feel great at that moment," said Jol of his sacking. "But then I was in Germany and Hamburg had 55,000 season-ticket holders, so that was a big club. And after a few weeks you play in the semi-finals in Europe. I played in the quarter-final with Spurs so it was even better.

"Then Daniel phoned me up as if nothing had happened, so that helped. I never had hard feelings. I like Daniel. Daniel looked after me [with the pay-off]. I've not been back although it's only one or two minutes from my house.

"This is nothing to do with unfinished business. England is the football country in Europe, maybe the world, because of the people. I feel comfortable. I was in Germany and felt I was on my own. In England they look after you.

"It's about relationships. Fulham were very good to me last year [when they tried to recruit him] and this year again. Fulham are the oldest club in London and that appeals to me. They are not as big as Arsenal or Spurs but they are still a great club.

"When I left Spurs I said I was like Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I'll be back.'"