It appears that Martin Jol was desperately lucky to have failed in his £20,000 bid to buy the infamous Michael Jackson statue from Mohamed al-Fayed.
Jol, who left Fulham in December, is reported to have an "eclectic art collection" and wanted to acquire the 7'6" statue for display in his garden. Negotiations over a potential sale are thought to have ended with Jol's departure from the club.
The painted edifice was fiercely disliked by many Fulham fans and stood outside Craven Cottage until new owner Shahid Khan had it placed in storage.
Fayed, a close friend of Jackson, has instead struck a deal with the National Football Museum in Manchester to display the piece.
Fayed said: "The National Football Museum is a splendid institution. The statue means a great deal to me and my family. But on reflection, I decided it should go to a place where it can be enjoyed by the greatest amount of people for ever. I think Michael would have approved of the choice. Like football itself, he entertained the world."
The National Football Museum added: "The story behind the statue and its relationship with Fulham would certainly make for a thought-provoking addition. We are very grateful to Mr Al Fayed for offering to donate this important item."’
