Hodgson does not want another nailbiting campaign at the wrong end of the division and is hoping he can build a team which will be in a comfortable mid-table position.

The former Inter Milan, Blackburn Rovers, Switzerland and Finland coach plotted Fulham's incredible route to safety thanks to four wins in the last five matches - including Sunday's 1-0 success at Portsmouth which sealed survival.

"We have to make certain in the summer that we've got a stronger platform next season," said Hodgson.

"The last thing we need is to find ourselves fighting from the offset trying to get out of the bottom three.

major powers

"We've given ourselves a chance to build that platform but a lot of hard work is going to have to be done to make sure it is built.

"Everyone at the club deserves this success we've had in the last few weeks and now we've got a couple of days to enjoy it but soon we have to get down to the hard work of making sure we are equipped to carry it on.

"It will always be tough trying to compete with the major powers of the Premier League.

"We all know there is a big gap in class between the top teams and the middle of the table - let alone the bottom section.

"But I've always thought that if we get a decent run at it, we can establish Fulham as a decent middle-of-the-table side at least."