A former manager of Fulham’s women’s team says extra precautions were put in place to protect female players from the club’s late owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

Gaute Haugenes, who managed the team from 2001 to 2003, told the BBC that members of staff became aware that the late billionaire “liked young, blonde girls”.

He said that as a result players were not allowed to be left alone with Al Fayed, who owned the club for 16 years.

On Friday, the Cottagers issued a statement saying they were “deeply troubled and concerned” by the “disturbing” reports about Al Fayed during his time as owner of Harrods.

In a BBC documentary, which aired on Thursday, several women accused Al Fayed of raping them when they worked at the luxury London department store.

Lawyers representing Al Fayed’s accusers told a news conference in London on Friday it was “unlikely” there were not more alleged victims.

“We don’t at this stage represent any women who, for instance, sustained any attacks at Fulham Football Club but our investigations are obviously ongoing into all of these entities that he had an involvement in,” barrister Maria Mulla said.

“It’s highly unlikely that there are not victims out there from these other places of work. Wherever he went, there will be victims.”

Fulham said they were trying to establish whether anyone at the club had been affected, encouraging people to come forward to its safeguarding department or the police.

“I read all the newspapers yesterday of course and to be honest it’s not the biggest surprise,” Haugenes said.

“We were aware he liked young, blonde girls. So we just made sure that situations couldn’t occur. We protected the players.”

Al Fayed bought Fulham for a reported £30m in 1997.

During his tenure as owner, the men’s team rose from the third tier of English football to the Premier League.

He backed a move to make the women’s team fully professional in 2000, the first side in Europe to do so, but they were downgraded to semi-professional in 2003 and funding was withdrawn in 2006.

Haugenes also said that he was paid by Harrods, rather than Fulham, during his time at the club.

“When the payslip came from Harrods it was quite strange. Also, the contract said that they could put me in the food shop in Dublin if that was what I wanted. It would never have happened today,” he said.

In response, Fulham referred to their earlier statement, which said: “We are deeply troubled and concerned to learn of the disturbing reports following yesterday’s documentary. We have sincere empathy for the women who have shared their experiences.

“We are in the process of establishing whether anyone at the club is, or has been, affected.

“Should any person wish to share information or experiences relating to these allegations, we encourage them to contact the club at safeguarding@fulhamfc.com or the police.”

Manchester City host Arsenal on Sunday (16:30 BST) in a mouth-watering match in the Premier League.

But, with fully-fit squads, which Man City and Arsenal players make your combined XI? Ederson or Raya? Rodri or Rice? Saka or Foden? Have a go and share with your friends.

The Scottish FA’s new Key Match Incident Review Panel has determined that the decision not to red card St Mirren’s Shaun Rooney for this incident on Saturday was incorrect.

The five-person panel – three of whom are coaches, former players or from the media, with one Scottish FA and one SPFL club representative – decreed that not showing a red card for violent conduct was a mistake, as was VAR Andrew Dallas’ decision not to intervene.

Rooney was not booked for twice kicking Kilmarnock’s Kyle Vassell and, in fact, was awarded a free-kick by referee Matthew MacDermid.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he doubts “there’s anyone better in world football” at pressing defenders than Daizen Maeda.

The 26-year-old Japan forward was picked out for praise on Champions League Match of the Day by former team-mate Joe Hart for “setting the tone” during Wednesday’s 5-1 demolition of Slovan Bratislava.

And Rodgers knows his front players deserve a slice of credit for the concession of only two goals in seven matches – all victories – this season.

“That’s where the game starts,” he said. “I’ve seen reports in terms of the team doing very well, keeping clean sheets and the goalkeeper and the back four.

“It starts at the front. And I would doubt there’s anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context.”

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner says their fine form at the end of last season meant “expectations were wrong” going into this campaign.

Palace won six of their last seven games of 2023-24, scoring 21 goals in that run. They ended up on 49 points, their best 38-game Premier League season.

But their only two wins this season have come in the Carabao Cup – against Championship sides Norwich and QPR – and they sit on two points from four games.

This is Glasner’s first full season in charge, having taken over in February.

Speaking before Saturday’s home game with Manchester United, the Austrian said: “The last seven games were great but the first 31 weren’t great – it doesn’t mean it continues like the last seven.

“The expectations were wrong because when you win two it doesn’t mean you win the next one, and when you lost two it doesn’t mean you lose the next one.

“After 31 rounds we were five points away from relegation. That is fact.

“We didn’t expect we win every game and play Champions League. When your highest number is 49 [points] you can’t expect 78.”

Team members are also expected to wear their black away kit, which pays tribute to the disaster.

Parkinson added: “Today we showed the lads, and it’s more for the new players, a short video to make sure everyone’s got a clear understanding of the poignancy of the weekend.”

The club remains determined to show their respects to those involved in the tragedy on September 22, 1934.

Co-owner Rob McElhenney has visited the mining wheel in Gresford and the Miners Rescue Station.

Both of Wrexham’s kits for the 2024-25 campaign include a pit wheel graphic and “266” on the nape in tribute to those who died in the disaster.

The game with Crawley comes just five days after Wrexham suffered their first loss of the League One campaign.

Parkinson’s side were beaten 3-1 by Birmingham City on Monday night, but remain at the summit of the third tier table after their opening six league fixtures.

“We’re not going to get too downbeat about the defeat, we’re going to learn from it and look forward to the weekend’s game,” added Parkinson.

“Crawley have had quite a lot of change in personnel, but they’ve recruited well and they look outside the box.

“It’s going to be one of those games like we’ve played before, we’ve got to make sure we give them the utmost respect, but be ready to impose ourselves on them as a team.”