Three relegations in four seasons, this time to League One and the third tier of English football for only the second time in its 142-year history.
Four permanent managers in the last two seasons, each with differing styles but none able to deliver sustained positive results and performances.
In 2022/23 Brendan Rodgers was eventually replaced by Dean Smith and Shakey, and our season was epitomised by the ‘We’ll be fine’ quote. In 2024/25 we got through another two managers and have the enduring image, provided by Danny Ward, of a team taking defeat lying down. And then in 2025/26 we saw another new manager sacked after 6 months with Rowett eventually appointed over 3 weeks later … but more importantly four league games later, which were all defeats. Relegated well before the end of April having won just two league games since the start of 2026 and losing ten. All accomplished by a squad said to be the highest paid in the Championship.
The Senior Leadership Team
It is beyond belief that the senior leadership of our football club has presided over such a catastrophic decline. Four years ago this month we were beating PSV in Eindhoven.
The legacy built by gradually building a squad of players capable of getting us to the Premier League in 2014, winning it in 2016 and then lifting the FA Cup just 5 years later, has been systematically destroyed.
A playing squad decimated, with players walking out of the door for free or paltry fees and going on to play football at the highest levels of the game.
Ageing players looking for a final payday finding a home at our Club. Ludicrous wages have been offered to mercenaries who have taken a lot and delivered very little in return.
The Club claim to have not seen the decline coming but virtually every supporter could. Some, as early as 2022, others more recent than that.
Off the pitch, the operation of the Club has hit new lows.
Two consecutive alleged breaches of PSR regulations has dragged the Club’s reputation through the mud. A legal loophole saved us punishment on one, but the other saw a points deduction for the first time in our Club’s history – a points deduction the Trust termed “not a punishment for ambition, a punishment for sustained mismanagement”.
In addition to that a six points deduction for financial irregularities for the 3 years to 2024, the latest accounts for year ending 2025 show losses of £71.1 million, and a squad claimed to be valued a £200m.
On 3 March 2026 we did see changes in our Club’s senior management structure which included the then existing Director of Football promoted to the role Chief Football Officer to provide ‘executive leadership of all football matters’ when he should have been moving on, instead of up.
These changes have not, and will not, provide the fresh impetus or external perspective that is badly needed.
The Trust Raising the Alarm
The Trust, apart from raising our concerns over the Club’s disconnect with the fan base (it’s inability to communicate and engage with fans, it’s involvement with BC Game, it’s handling of safe standing and the introduction of digital tickets), made clear to the Club in 2025, following last year’s End of Season Survey, that supporters were hugely concerned about the way the club was being run with:
- only 4% of supporters surveyed had confidence in the senior management to effectively manage the club day to day,
- only 9% of them believed that the current owners of the club are doing a good job.
The Trust called on the club to make changes to the Senior Leadership of the Club, and to appoint a Director of Football with a proven track record of improving a club at the highest level and then communicate a clear strategy for improvement
When Susan Whelan departed, we called for the appointment of a CEO “with a proven track record in the world of football”. Five months later, the club opted for an internal hire with no prior experience in this role and missed the opportunity to bring in much-needed fresh perspective and experience where the Club was failing.
When the Trust called the appointment of a new Director of Football, we were not expecting the existing incumbent to be rewarded for failure with a promotion.
Fan Engagement
Real engagement with supporters has nosedived. The Fan Engagement Framework (FEF), rather than improving engagement, has been used as defensive shield by the Club.
The Trust’s Supporters Engagement Survey, with almost 1,000 respondents, which was carried out in February this year, showed that 86% of fans surveyed felt the Fan Engagement Framework was not ensuring fans felt engaged. Seventy-eight percent said they were not an engaged supporter today.
The Club has used the FEF to push Supporter Groups towards the sessions in the framework, rather than engaging directly with the groups.
Ninety-two percent of the fans surveyed said the Club should look to deal directly with representative bodies of Leicester City Supporters (such as The Foxes Trust, Union FS, Foxes Pride etc.) who all have the interest and well-being of the Club at the heart of what they do.
The Financial Position
Independent experts are indicating the club will not be financially viable due to this relegation.
The club must now ensure it adopts strict financial management on what will be greatly reduced income.
And it needs to return to intelligent recruitment, based not just on a players ability and potential, but on his strength of character, to fit in with what Leicester City want their football identity to be. A return to the mindset, spirit, and workrate, which counted for so much in building towards the achievement of our Premier League success.
Importance of End of Season Survey
It’s important that as many supporters as possible complete the survey. We aim to represent all supporters, and the Trust need to hear views from across the whole fan base.
There may be some Leicester City supporters who are content with both the senior leadership team and the owners. They may even consider themselves to be part of a silent majority. If you feel that way it is still important to have your say.
Our mandate on how to represent Leicester City supporters when we engage with the Club is based on your views, and the clear majorities seen from the survey will form the key issues the Trust will take forward with the Club.
And to those that say the club won’t listen to us, we can assure you that we do have influence. We have gained some achievements. Not as many as we would want, but the greater size of the survey the more we’ll be listened to.
Trust’s Current Stance
The board of the Foxes Trust, believes that our Club needs a complete reset, from top to bottom. We believe that had supporters, and supporter groups, been better listened to over the last few years, the Club would not find itself in the perilous position it does today.
The Foxes Trust Board has no confidence in the current leadership structure at the Club to halt this decline and begin the process of rebuilding and reconnecting. This view is based on what supporters of our Club told us in previous surveys and how the Trust has seen things unravel this season.
We believe that if the owners truly want to rebuild a relationship with supporters, they should make bold changes immediately which include the removal from our football club of the people responsible for its decline and show a clear willingness properly engage with supporters.
It is time for the Club to listen and act. It’s time to make meaningful changes.
It’s time for those in senior leadership positions that have presided over the decline of our Club to leave.
COMPLETE THE END OF SEASON SURVEY NOW
Key issues from last years End of Season Survey – Foxes Trust Survey Results – Our On-line event generates press reaction – Foxes Trust
This year’s End of Season Survey 2026 – Foxes Trust End of Season Survey 2026 – Foxes Trust
The Fosse Way – May 2022 – We’re not fearless any more – We’re not fearless any more: Leicester City’s identity crisis – The Fosse Way
BBC Sport – Leicester ‘face £70m black hole’ after disastrous spending gamble – BBC Sport
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