When both McIntyre and Hogan were dismissed about two thirds of the way through the season, the board turned to Joe Edelston to fill the gap. He was one of the best-known and most popular figures at the Cottage in the inter-war period and served the club in a variety of roles.
Born in 1891, Edelston played for Hull and Manchester City before signing for Fulham in 1920. He made 67 first team appearances but with his organisational skills and tactical knowledge, he was made captain and coach of the reserves in 1925, a post he held for 12 years.
He worked under six managers in this time, one of whom, Hogan, persuaded him to qualify as a coach. Although interested, he was never offered the manager's job and his opportunities in the top job were restricted to the temporary roles.
He had a serious falling out with Hogan's successor in the autumn of 1937. The reserves were top of the Combination whilst the first team were struggling at the foot of Division Two and when Edelston took charge of the first team he was accused of over-riding the manager's instructions.
Still unconvinced of the need to coach professionals, the board advised Edelston to seek another appointment after 17 years at Fulham. He later worked for Brentford, Reading and Leyton Orient, but ended his working life in a clerical job. Edelston was 78 when he died in Deptford in 1970. His son, Maurice, was a player with Joe at Fulham and Reading and later became a BBC commentator.