Schwarzer stalemate set to continue, says Hughes

BOLTON, England (AFP) – Fulham manager Mark Hughes made it clear Arsenal would have to up their offer for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer before he’d let the Australia international leave Craven Cottage.

Schwarzer was left out of the Cottagers’ goalless Premier League opener away to Bolton on Saturday just a day after handing in a transfer request to join Arsenal, who have qualified for the Champions League.

The Gunners had a two million pounds bid for Schwarzer rejected by London rivals Fulham in May and Hughes indicated the Cottagers’ would want more than that for one of their best players, who he stressed had been left out at the Reebok Stadium because he’d failed a fitness test.

Asked if the 37-year-old Schwarzer was staying at Fulham, Hughes replied: “That is the intention, yes. Nothing has moved on.

“Myself and Mark have had conversations and I fully understand the reasoning behind the fact that he maybe wants to take up the opportunity (to join Arsenal).

“But I think he also understands that we have to protect our position as well, and that is what we are doing.

“We are not going to put Fulham’s position or reputation at risk by making promises we can’t fulfil, so at the moment it’s very much the status quo and nothing has moved on.”

Hughes admitted he was interested in signing fellow Welshman Craig Bellamy, with the striker set to be surplus to requirements at Manchester City.

Former Wales forward Hughes has managed Bellamy at national level and at Blackburn and City as well.

“I said on Friday if there is an opportunity to bring him to the club, we will investigate that, but I’m aware that there are other clubs interested,” Hughes said.

“Obviously we would like to do some things in terms of bringing him to the club, but there is a long way to go and the key to it is what Craig wants to do.

“I think it is really important that he takes the right step for him. I’m sure he will take his time and eventually come to the right decision.”

Hughes’s first competitive match in charge saw Fulham earn a point thanks in no small part to David Stockdale, Schwarzer’s replacement in goal, who was making only his second Premier League appearance.

“I was pleased with what we produced,” Hughes said.

“You expect to have to deal with good quality here with the threat of Kevin Davies and I think we acquitted ourselves well, certainly the back five, and I include David Stockdale, who I thought played really, really well.

“The confidence that he showed helped the back four. They were very organised and understood what they needed to do to get a result.

“David has been training well and I have been really impressed with him in the short time that I have been at the club.

“I had no qualms about throwing him in, I thought he’d do well and I’m glad that he has enjoyed the experience.”