Sir Bobby Robson

The photo above is of the main gate at Fulham Football Club's Craven Cottage ground taken yesterday [by Stuart's campaign manager].

It shows some of the tributes that have been left to this great former Fulham player by fans - and as the various scarves show, not just Fulham fans.

Sir Bobby played for Fulham twice in his career: from 1950-1956 and then from 1962-67 making almost 350 appearances and scoring 77 goals for the club. He very briefly managed Fulham - the first of ten sides he was in charge of - after he retired as a player in 1968.

It is gestures like that above which make football the game I love; regardless of the fact that I happen to be a QPR supporter Sir Bobby did so much for our sport and if nothing else demonstrated that, the fact that tributes are being paid from Stevenage Road in Fulham to St James's Park in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne says it all.

Johnny Haynes

A statue to legendary Fulham and England captain Johnny Haynes was today unveilled outside the gates of Craven Cottage.

Johnny Haynes was one of the greatest ever footballers who played 658 games for Fulham - a club record - and represented his country 56 times. It was a mark of his brilliance that he was routinely selected for England while Fulham were in what was the Second Division; an incredibly rare occurrence.

So it's fitting that the Club has dedicated its first statue to him and that the statue does him justice.

My judgement is flawed

Well, when it comes to football, it is.

My agent is an ardent Fulham fan. as you might imagine he's a particualrly happy fella just now, as Fulham avoided the drop with a last day win at Portsmouth. A month ago I told him Fulham were finished and dead certs for relegation when they only managed a draw at the season's whipping boys, Derby. I was wrong, and am happy to admit it. Just goes to show that you should never write anyone off however dire things might seem for them!

Fulham and QPR - on the up?

So Lawrie Sanchez has finally been sacked by Fulham - and about time too given the lamentable run the club has experienced. As Mark Lawrenson on Football Focus earlier today said: with hindsight, and without the £20million lavished upon, and largely wasted by, Sanchez it's now clear what a great job Chris Coleman did when he was Manager.

Let's hope that the Fulham Board choose carefully and use the transfer window well; and with the pending return of Jamie Bullard from injury I really hope that the tide can be turned, and yesterday's recovery against Wigan at least signalled that Fulham can do other than just concede games in the final minutes.

As some of you will know, while I'm fond of Fulham, my true loyalties lie a couple of miles north of Craven Cottage at Loftus Road with QPR, who haven't been doing well either. But the good news for Hoops fans is that, in addition to the backing of Formula 1 Empressario Bernie Ecclestone and Bennetton boss Flavio Briattore, a 20% stake has now been acquired by Steel Magnate (and Labour Party benefactor!) Lakshmi Mittal. Between them, they're estimated to be worth almost £30 billion.

So for the first time in a while, I'm relishing the looming transfer window - and hopefully QPR will follow in Fulham's footsteps and climb back into the Premiership after several torrid seasons.

Fulham Football Club Planning Application?

One of the long running sagas just across the river, but of local interest, is that of Fulham FC and the battle it has had with some residents to modernise and expand its stadium to cope with its Premiership fanbase.

Planning Applications to increase the size of its stadium have been flying back and forth for a couple of decades now and have generated huge local rows between some of the residents living near to the club who seem opposed to all development there, and Club supporters - plenty of whom live in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields - who want a Craven Cottage ground fit for the 21st century.

Now Fulham has indicated it wants to submit a new planning application, this time to add 4,000 seats; a more modest proposal than their last one. The Club is also proposing to open up its riverside terrace so that Bishop's Park can be connected to the Thames Path further north except on matchdays, restore the listed Stevenage Road stand and provide funds to improve Bishops Park.

The Club is holding a public meeting next Wednesday, 24 October, at Craven Cottage. Space is limited, so if you'd like to attend and hear more, you should email residents@fulhamfc.com. If Fulham submit a planning application, I'll talk more about my views.