Fulham manager Martin Jol has revealed that Bobby Zamora wanted to leave the club for a long time and had to move for the good of the club.

Zamora: Joined QPR on deadline day

Zamora, 31, left Craven Cottage for west London rivals QPR this week, moving for a fee that could be worth more than £6million.

There has been much speculation in recent months of a rift between Zamora and Jol, although the pair have always been quick to play down such talk.

The latter was again coy when asked about their relationship on Thursday, but he did say it was a good time for the striker to leave.

"The talk of a rift wasn't just over the past couple of weeks, it was over the last couple of months and probably since August," Jol said.

"Bobby wanted to move so we had to wait for a good offer and QPR made a good offer.

"It was only a matter of making a decision of whether to keep him or let him go.

"I had the opportunity to get somebody else, who is a bit younger in Pavel [Pogrebnyak].

"[I would] not [say he is] better because Bobby was a good player for us so all credit to him.

"It was just about making a decision for us.

"I think in the games he played he always gave 100%, but if players ask for a move you get the impression [he doesn't want to be here].

"If you ask your boss to move, I think he will get the impression you don't want to work for him.

"That is the only impression I got. He wanted to move."

He added: "We have a good atmosphere here, a good spirit and they all want to play for the club.

"You have to appreciate for me the most important thing is that they want to play for Fulham and that they want to play with their heart."

Fulham began life after Zamora with a whimper on Wednesday night as West Brom secured a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage.

The west Londoners looked bereft of attacking ideas apart from Clint Dempsey's second-half goal as they played without a recognised striker.

Fulham will be boosted by Mousa Dembele's return from a hip injury at Manchester City this weekend, although striker Andrew Johnson continues to miss out with a groin problem and new signing Pavel Pogrebnyak is waiting for clearance.

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could also return after a spell on the sidelines, but Jol revealed earlier on Thursday that Steve Sidwell faces up to six weeks out with a hernia injury.