Fulham manager Marco Silva promised a decision next week on his future and admitted his team missed the “cherry on the cake” by failing to qualify for Europe.
A 2-0 win over Newcastle at Craven Cottage will have been a fitting send-off if, as looks likely, the lure of replacing Jose Mourinho at Benfica proves sufficiently tempting for Silva to walk away after five years in charge.
Fulham have offered a three-year deal for him to stay but as supporters said goodbye for the summer to their team in west London, there was a sense that one farewell might have been for good.
“In this moment, I’m being honest with you, I don’t feel like that, because I haven’t decided,” said Silva. “If I have made my decision, I don’t have any problem to say.
“If I haven’t announced anything and the club haven’t announced anything, it’s because I haven’t decided. It’s not going to be longer than next week. It cannot happen.
“I don’t like to play games. In this moment I haven’t made my decision. It’s going to be next week for sure. We have to announce because the club has to move on, or for me to be here we have many things to prepare.”
Fulham fell a win short of a memorable season despite comfortably dispatching a toothless Newcastle side.
Three more points would have propelled them to a Europa League place and when the final standings are looked at, the 1-0 defeat to sixth-place Bournemouth here on 9 May will be the game that stands out as the moment Fulham’s fate ran away from them.
There was at least a wonderful goal from Tom Cairney, flashed into the top corner from 25 yards in the second half, to send supporters away happy – even if that feeling only lasts until Silva reveals his decision in a few days.
Issa Diop had earlier headed Fulham in front, reacting quickest to nod home after Kevin’s glorious arching free-kick had struck the bar.
It was not enough. Fulham finished 11th, a single point off qualifying for the Conference League.
“We missed the cherry on the cake,” said Silva. “I’m the first one to say.”
Newcastle’s season has been more starkly disappointing. A run of one win in seven in January and February effectively ended their Champions League hopes, and four losses in a row that came later led to a dispiriting finish of 12th.
“Not the way we want to end the season, that’s for sure,” said boss Eddie Howe, who has been told his job is safe despite a poor campaign.
“There was a disjointed view about the team, in part because we had limited selection choices. We didn’t like how we performed. Really frustrating.
“It’s been a really difficult season. The number of games we played, the focus going from Europe back to the Premier League is always a challenge. We haven’t dealt with that well enough in our Premier League season.
“The squad had a disjointed look to it towards the end of the season with injuries and lots of other stuff. It’s been a tough and challenging campaign but one the team will come through stronger for.”
