When the Second Division title was won, Fulham turned to Southampton, the team that was pipped at the post for promotion, for a new team manager.
Bill Dodgin had enjoyed a successful spell at the Dell since his appointment, his first as a manager, in June 1946. Before the war, he been a wing half with Huddersfield, Lincoln, Charlton, Bristol Rovers, Clapton Orient and Southampton, and at 39 years of age, he was not only one of Fulham's youngest managers (about the same as Kelso and Ducat) but he was one of the youngest in the First Division.
He found it tough going. The Cottagers were probably not good enough for the top flight and, apart from buying three or four players in the summer of 1950, seemed unwilling to spend the money necessary to keep them there.
After two seasons of struggle, they were relegated in the third. Dodgin was given another season in charge but mid table in 1952-53 was not good enough and in the autumn of 1953 he was on his way, first to Brentford and then Sampdoria.
From 1961 until his retirement in 1972, he was associated in various capacities with Bristol Rovers. Dodgin always claimed that he was unlucky at Fulham, Haynes and Robson were just breaking through, but not soon enough. He did not help his own cause, however, letting the popular Len Quested move to Huddersfield and playing his own son, Bill junior.