Claudio Ranieri would have Fulham players prepare for games by playing handball.

Ranieri, who was sacked by the Cottagers last month after a disastrous run of just three wins in 17 games, has just signed for a second stint at Roma.

The Sun says the experienced Italian would bore the players with an hour of handball - rather than work on tactical drills and set-pieces as his side stared relegation in the face.

Things got so bad behind the scenes at Craven Cottage, that a group of players approached the club owners to tell them Ranieri was not the man to lead them to safety.

As the defeats clocked up Ranieri refused to change his approach, much to the alarm of the squad who were desperate to iron out the problems that got his predecessor, Slavisa Jokanovic, the boot.

A source said: “When things are going wrong you expect the manager to try and come up with some answers to get them out of the mess they were in.

“But all they got the day before crucial games when every point counted was a game of handball.

“It got to a point where some of the players had simply had enough and told the owners they have to make a change or they are certain to go down."