Fulham take European spot ahead of Blackpool

Fulham have pipped Blackpool to the Fair Play place in next season’s Europa League.

The Seasiders missed out on the spot by 0.01 points in the final discipline table, meaning Mark Hughes’ team will begin their next European adventure on June 30th.

The Premier League said in a statement: ‘Fulham FC has finished the season as the highest placed club in the 2010/11 Fair Play League that has not already qualified for UEFA competitions via the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League.

‘The club will take the additional European place awarded to England and compete in next season’s UEFA Europa League.’

At one point yesterday it had looked as if it would be Pool who would competing from the first qualifying round later next month.

However, the players and staff were uneasy about the prospect. Gary Taylor-Fletcher was quoted on SkySportsNews this morning as to not wanting the extra fixtures and that the players needed a break.

Fulham were always frontrunners for the spot given their near-immaculate record during the season. In fact, they picked up their first red card in the final game of the season when midfielder Zoltan Gera was sent off against Arsenal.

Ian Holloway and his side were always in the hunt however, given their professional nature on and off the pitch; the table was marked from red and yellow cards to behaviour of officials and that of the supporters.

Alas, it wasn’t to be. The positive news to come out of it is that Pool now have a full pre-season ahead of the 2011/12 Championship season – giving the management maximum time to sign the correct targets and be fully prepared.