Fulham fans react to shock Claudio Ranieri appointment after Jokanovic sacking

FULHAM fans have been left divided after the club decided to replace Slavisa Jokanovic with Claudio Ranieri.

The Cottagers are bottom of the Premier League after losing nine of their opening 12 games and shipping 31 goals - the most of any side in the top flight.

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Jokanovic guided Fulham into the Championship top six in successive seasons, beating Aston Villa in the play-off final last May to win promotion.

However, despite a flurry of new signings the West Londoners have struggled, leading to owner Shahid Khan making the change during the international break.

Ranieri was regarded as an outsider for the role having been out of a job since leaving Nantes at the end of last season.

Many fans have reacted with disappointment that Serbian Jokanovic - who ended a four-year wait for a return to the Premier League - has been offloaded so early into the season.

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Eden Gordon wrote on Twitter: "Gutted for . Gave us one of the best memories & seasons ever. Always grateful. Not convinced by the tinker man. Especially after Slav bingo was so widely criticised[sic]."

Referencing the 2-0 defeat to Liverpool, Jokanovic's final game in charge, Colm McNobla said: "Raging. Team showed they looked to have turned a corner at Anfield, should have been given the Southampton game. Not impressed with Ranieri but at least it's not Pardew[sic]."

Whites fan Dave also backed Jokanovic, saying: "Shocked.. and a bit gutted. Know Joka had a fair amount to answer for in the short term but I would have still backed him.

"Not sure Ranieri is the right man for the job either, personally. Though he's 100% better than a Moyes or an Allardyce."

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That sentiment was echoed by a number of Fulham followers, some of whom were delighted the club did not turn to either former England and Everton boss Sam Allardyce or Alan Pardew, the ex-West Brom and Newcastle coach.

Pardew was the bookmakers' favourite prior to Ranieri's appointment, with Allardyce and David Moyes also in contention.

Chris summed up the emotion of many Fulham fans by saying: "It's not Allardyce, Moyes or Pardew. Every cloud! Welcome Claudio![sic]"

Ed Hunt simply put: "At least it's not Allardyce[sic]"

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Ranieri's name will forever be etched in Premier League folklore having taken Leicester to the title in the 2015-16 season, before being sacked less than a year later.

The Foxes were 5,000/1 outsiders to hold off the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham at the start of the campaign.

Bookmakers' are now quoting Fulham at the same odds to pull-off an identical triumph this season, and some are mischievously suggesting that lightning could strike twice.

Nick Allen wrote: "Odds on a title win?"

The arrival of the ex-Chelsea boss was dismissed by many given his previous failure in England, and abroad with the likes of Juventus, Roma and the Greece national team.

Former Leicester striker Gary Lineker was among the sceptics, tweeting "Claudio Ranieri? Really?" is response to the move, and he used the breaking news as an excuse to repeat the quip - though the reference was lost on many.