Fulham's controversial statue of Michael Jackson is set to be returned to the club's former owner Mohamed Al Fayed.

The opinion-splitting sculpture was installed behind the Hammersmith Stand at Craven Cottage in 2011 as Fayed wanted to pay tribute to the late King of Pop, whom Fayed was friends with and said was a fan of the club.

Fayed sold the Cottagers to American Shahid Khan for £150million this summer and said there would be "big trouble" if Khan was to remove it.

However, it now appears Fayed will take the statue to one of his other properties as the club press on with plans to revamp their home on the banks of the Thames.

A Fulham spokesperson said: "The statue is not part of the Riverside development of the stadium and will be returned to the former chairman in due course."