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Johnson contract talks hit stumbling block

Andrew Johnson has been in good form for Fulham this season © Getty Images

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Fulham manager Martin Jol has revealed the length of contract is the stumbling block in their negotiations with Andrew Johnson as they look to agree a new deal with the striker.

Johnson, 30, has looked sharp for the Cottagers this season, scoring a hat-trick against QPR and six goals in the Europa League.

Johnson's current contract runs out of the end of the season and his future has been the subject of much debate, with QPR amongst those linked as possible destinations.

While both parties have confirmed they want to sign a new deal, Jol revealed today there is an issue over contract length.

"We will talk to him again,'' he said. "I talk to him every day and tell him what the difference is between one-and-a-half [until the end of the 2012/13 season] and two years [until the end of 2013/14] but he doesn't agree.

"He wants this year and another two years which is what we're arguing about.''

Jol also joined chairman Mohamed Al Fayed in dismissing former manager Mark Hughes' claim the club lacked ambition.

The Dutchman took the helm at Craven Cottage in the summer to fill the void left by former Manchester City boss Hughes, who said this week he left the club due to their lack of ambition.

The comments were met by a swift and scathing rebuttal by chairman Al Fayed in an open letter, which labelled the Welshman a "strange man'' and a "flop''. While Jol did not comment on his predecessor this afternoon, he quickly dismissed the notion Fulham lacked the desire to press forward.

"The only thing was that Mark said the club was not ambitions and [Al Fayed] wanted to make the point that he was very ambitious and we were very ambitious,'' he said. "I think he is very ambitious and I feel we are so for me that is no problem, but that was Mark Hughes. If he felt that was true then that is his opinion but the truth is always [somewhere] in the middle.

"[That said], it is not an opinion I support. He [Al Fayed] has supported us with the things we do. I can't even say most of the time as it is all of the time that he tries to do something. With Bryan Ruiz, even though it was probably not [the transfer fee] people think, he still spent a lot of money. Even if you pay it in instalments it is a lot of money and he backed us to do well. I think, especially in that sort of department, he shows his ambition all the time.''

The Cottagers have started the season slowly but Al Fayed has backed Jol, describing him in his letter as a "top manager'' and the man they always wanted. The start echoes the one they made under Hughes as the Cottagers struggled until the new year last season, when they kicked on to finish eighth.

"They backed him as well, even when things were not going well,'' Jol said. "The second half of the season was good, [although it helped that] they had a luxury of not being in all the cups. We play in Europe and then the FA Cup, hopefully to the end, after Christmas so we have to cope with that sort of thing. Until now the reactions of the chairman have generally been positive because he knows what I am doing and what I have to do here.

"I can tell you that you have to do a few things to make that squad better and try to improve the quality of the team and the players.''

Fulham currently lie 17th in the table and have just one league win to their name. Next up is Saturday's clash with fellow strugglers Wigan but Jol could be without two defensive regulars. Aaron Hughes has been ruled out for a couple of weeks with a thigh injury, while Philippe Senderos will have a thigh complaint assessed tomorrow.

"We've got injury with Aaron Hughes,'' he said. "I feel it is because of the an old injury as he has a thigh problem and before that it was his groin. It is the same area so he came on [against Everton], never touched the ball and got injured again.

"I think it could be a couple of weeks. We have got Senderos as a doubt after leaving training today with a thigh [problem] as well. Senderos was fit again, played against Millwall with a few other guys from the first-team and did well.

"We have to make an assessment tomorrow morning. Simon Davies, of course, is still recovering and will probably be fit for the end of November, while Orlando Sa has a hamstring injury from the match at Wisla Krakow.''

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