Image source: Getty ImagesByNick MashiterFootball Reporter25 minutes ago155 commentsTen years ago Leicester was days away from winning Premier League. The Foxes will play in League One next season. They have been on a steep decline since winning the FA Cup 2021. Tuesday’s 2-2 tie with Hull City confirmed the relegation. The Foxes experienced all emotions in the last decade, from the shock of winning the FA Cup by a 5,000-1 margin to the tragic death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha two years later in a helicopter accident. In 2016-17, they played Atletico in the Champions League quarter finals. The Foxes are now in the same league as Bromley, a team that has played non-league football for 132 years. The decline began after Rodgers’ dismissal in April 2023, when the club was in the bottom three. They still had internationals like Jamie Vardy and James Maddison, but they were unable to win the FA Cup. In the three years since Rodgers’ departure, Leicester has had seven managers. Sources question the decision-making, as the Foxes have lurched between styles with no identity. They went from Smith to Enzo Maesca who at least led them to the Championship title 2024. Steve Cooper, after a failed attempt to sign Graham Potter, to Ru Marti Cifuentes, who was appointed by Van Nistelrooy in July, was expected to take over with the same squad. He was sacked in January after finishing 14th, six points away from the play-offs. Former Foxes defender Gary Rwett was then appointed 24 days later, having been fired by releg Leicester has fallen even further under Rowett. The six-point deduction in February for violating EFL financial regulations left them only on goal differential from the relegation zones. Insiders were shocked at the poor performance of the team in the Saturday’s loss at Portsmouth. Harry Winks got into an ugly argument with fans after the match as he boarded his team coach. Winks, who was brought on as a substitute in the second half of the Hull game, was booed when he entered the field. Follow the reaction as Leicester is relegated from League OneLeicester is relegated after a draw against Hull. The impact of the owner’s deathThe impact that Vichai’s death has on the Foxes cannot be underestimated. The story of winning the Premier League in 2015-16 against all odds is one of the most inspiring sporting stories ever. Robert Huth, the key member of Foxes’ winning squad, said: “He was so important.” “He was a man who got things done.” “After Vichai died, his son Aiyawatt (known as ‘Top” in Thailand) took over the club and father’s business. Huth said, “Top is younger.” “He lost his father, he has to now run King Power. He is in the spotlight. It’s easy to criticise. “He lost his dad in public and it will have an impact. People tend to overlook this. He had to take the company over when he was only 33. You’re a teenager, you look to your father for guidance and it was taken from him overnight.” Leicester have taken steps in order to stop the decline. However, some sources have cited blame culture and a lack of responsibility from both the squad and the club. Huth, Leicester’s loan manager between 2022-2024, said, “I always found Jon to be fair, reasonable, and honest.” “They love Leicester, and want the club do well, but they need help. “Image source, PA MediaThe Fans’ verdict”It is heartbreaking to see us do so well and then dare to dream or to do the impossible,” Foxes Trust Chair Lynn Wyeth told BBC Sport. “I don’t believe anyone ever truly, honestly, thought that we would compete in the Premier League each season. We’re not deluded, but there was an optimism that we could start to be up there in the European spots quite frequently. “It’s not been a gradual slide. It has been in a free fall since Brendan Rodgers. “It all went horribly wrong very quickly. It “The financial impact of another relegationByDale JohnsonFootball issues correspondentLeicester’s relegation comes with serious financial question marks.After being deducted six points for exceeding the maximum loss threshold through to the 2023-24 season by PS20.8m, last month the club reported another huge loss (PS71.1m) for 2024-25.And that second season was as a Premier League club.Leicester had been operating a wages-to-turnover ratio of more than 100% for the two seasons to 2023-24, meaning they were paying out more just on salaries than they generated.Wages dropped to 82% for the Premier League relegation season – largely due to television income – but they still had several big earners.Those players had clauses that reduced their wages upon relegation, but Leicester have still had several of the highest-paid players in the Championship this season.Many of the big earners – such as Patson Daka, Ricardo Pereira and Winks – will be out of contract in the summer.But Oliver Skipp, who has won 10 England caps, is contracted through to 2029 and Jannik Vestergaard remains under contract after being given a three-year deal just before his 31st birthday in 2024.Finding new clubs for those players will not be easy.And then there’s the issue with Leicester’s loan from Australian investment bank Macquarie.In September, they went to Macquarie to bring forward instalments due from the transfers of Tom Cannon, Kasey McAteer and James Justin. In ‘Top’ has previously written off hundreds of millions of pounds in loans.But now it seems Macquarie has been providing lots of the advanced funding, spending future monies due.With television revenues much lower in the League One, there will come a point when there is not much left to take out loans against.From next season, clubs in League One will be restricted to spending 60% of their extra football income – such as prize money, cup earnings or transfer fees received – on player-related expenditure.With many players still at the club on – in League One terms – astronomical wages, it will be tough for Leicester to operate within these parameters.Related topicsLeicester CityPremier LeagueLeague OneChampionshipFootball
