Precautions were put in place to protect Fulham’s women’s team from the club’s late owner Mohamed Fayed, a former manager has said. Five women have alleged that they were raped by Fayed, who died last year at the age of 94,

Fulham are investigating whether anyone associated with the club has been a victim of its former owner Mohamed Al Fayed, who has been accused of raping and sexually abusing young women.

Al-Fayed purchased Fulham in 1997, after their promotion to the old Division Two (now League One). He immediately announced his ambition to take the club to the Premier League within five years. Fulham were promoted to the lucrative top flight in 2001 and remained there until 2014.