Doubt over Baresi future

Franco Baresi's future at Fulham was in new doubt today after it emerged that he is working on a trial basis.

The former AC Milan and Italian international defender arrived at Craven Cottage as director of football but his role has been cut back.

The 42-year-old lost his initial title last month and Standard Sport can reveal that his two-year contract has been reduced to six months.

Mystery has surrounded Baresi's precise role at Fulham, with some reports suggesting he was brought in to succeed manager Jean Tigana and he is now working as a football adviser to the chairman, Mohamed Fayed.

Baresi's main role is to assess possible transfer targets and he was involved in all the club's dealings, most notably the arrival of Junichi Inamoto from Gamba Osaka, this summer.

A club spokesman stressed that Tigana and Baresi get on well, and that the manager's position was not under threat but Baresi is unlikely to be unhappy working as a glorified scout.

Fulham's run to the final of the InterToto Cup has eased some of the pressure on Tigana but defender Steve Finnan will miss the first leg against Bologna on Tuesday because of an ankle injury.