Reports on Tuesday suggested that the 84-year-old was in talks with overseas investors in a move that would bring to an end his 16-year association with the London club.

The Egyptian businessman paid £6.25 million to secure the freehold of Craven Cottage in 1997 and became a major shareholder in the process.

Fulham had just been promoted from the bottom tier of the Football League and Al Fayed pledged a return to the pinnacle of English football for the first time since 1967-68.

It took four years for him to deliver on that promise, but the 2013-14 campaign will be Fulham's 13th consecutive Premier League season.

A spokesperson for the club had no comment to make when contacted by OMNISPORT on Wednesday.