While Ipswich and Southampton are busy setting out their approach to life in the Championship, we still have silence from Leicester City.
As part of our objective to hold the club to account to the highest standards of business management and operational performance, over the last 12 months the Trust, both in meetings with the club, and through the Fan Engagement Framework has told LCFC it needs to improve communications with its supporters and be more transparent. But the communication void continues. In respect of the club’s preparation for the coming season, all we know is that some friendlies are lined up. In the last few weeks fans and the media have been talking about the communication void.
Anyone who’s knows anything about ‘Comms’ is aware that where a void occurs, others fill it with speculation, rumours and ‘what if’s’. On one LCFC fan’s Message Board someone posted ‘Obviously the club are busy behind the scenes.’ Really? Are they? … Or have they all just gone on holiday.
Three days after our article published on 9 June, the Radio Leicester Bootroom show covered 30 minutes of Matty Fryatt and Jack Rafferty discussing what might be happening. But they don’t know. None of us do. Not even it would seem, Ruud.
The irony is, on the same day, Mark Ashton, the Chairman of Ipswich Town, did a 45-minute interview with the media setting out their plans.
He didn’t give specific information about which players would be sold and bought, but he did give a clear insight into the club’s direction of travel, their policy about recruitment, his faith in the manager, their style of play and the way they would continue to move forward. Most Ipswich fans would feel reassured and believe they were in good hands.
We took a look at what’s happened at Southampton.
Their new Director of Football (DoF), Johannes Spors, following his appointment in March, did a 45-minute interview and a round of Q&As with other media and fans. The main message that coming out of this was exactly what his responsibilities would be. What he would be accountable for and judged on.
Then Southampton had the appointment of Will Still. As you would expect more interviews followed but what is clear Still and Spors are on the same page about what they want. Southampton fans know what’s happening and the direction of travel.
Now following that, their Chairman and owner, Dragan Solak, has sat down with BBC Radio Solent and held his first interview with them since his company, Sport Republic acquired a majority stake in Southampton in early 2022.
He talked knowledgably about football, gave assurances that he’s not selling up, covers the prospects of working with his Director of Football and his new manager Will Still. He accepts the failures of last season, and the fact that they didn’t act quickly enough to replace Jason Wilcox as DoF when he left for Manchester United before their Premier League campaign commenced.
This is engagement with the supporter base. This is how to get, and keep, supporters on board.
The big fear for Leicester City Supporters is whether we have people at the club, whether it be the Chairman, the Director of Football, or the Head of Comms at LCFC, who have the skill set and the capabilities to even be able to give interviews of this nature, let alone whether they will.
Two weeks after we published our first article regarding commenting on the silence from the club following our relegation nothing has changed. Minutes of the Fans Consultative Committee Working Groups, remain hidden away on the club’s website. Minutes which contain information many fans would find informative because they covered matters such as ticketing, safe standing, the match day experience, and more.
Just making them accessible would have been a start. But it seems real engagement doesn’t seem to be as important to LCFC as marketing. It’s time for them to change.
Links
When You’re Smiling Podcast 12 June – No News Isn’t Always Good News
Mark Ashton Interview 12 June – Ipswich Town Chairman on relegation, transfers and future plans
Johannes Spors Interview 12 March – BBC Sounds – Spors speaks to Radio Solent
Daily Echo interview with Spors – Spors to assume ultimate responsibility of all of the club’s football decisions.
Will Still interview 26 May 2025 – Style, philosophy and identity outlined for Southampton
Southampton owner Dragan Solak talks to Radio Solent – Hear the full interview