Leicester City

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Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper believes the club's hierarchy are "struggling" to make a decision on Ruud van Nistelrooy, after the Dutchman revealed he is "still waiting" to have talks about his managerial future at King Power Stadium.

Speaking on the When You're Smiling podcast, Piper says he expected the club to have already initiated talks but doesn't think they should be "in any rush" to sack him before other important decisions have been made.

"What's probably going on is that people are pointing fingers at the hierarchy of the club and the club feel they cannot afford to get another big decision wrong," he explained. "They are probably panicking.

"I can't imagine Ruud being here next year. It's not that it just won't look good, it's that he has failed miserably.

"I don't think the club are leaning one way or another. I really think they are struggling with it because they cannot afford to get another decision wrong.

"This is why 'Top' needs to really look at his position first and think about whether this is still what he wants to do. Then the club can look at making changes or bringing in more support at boardroom level because things have been going drastically wrong for a while now.

"These are decisions that need to be in place first, then they can make a decision on the manager.

"I don't think they should be in any rush to sack Ruud. This has been a disastrous season so it isn't going to make much of a difference now if you leave him in post and give yourselves some thinking time over the summer.

"It is one big struggle at the football club at the minute. It's not just the guys on the pitch that are letting things down at Leicester at the minute, it's all the way through the club."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

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Dear Top,

Let met start by saying as a fan I am, and always will be grateful for what King Power, your late father, you and your family have done for my football club. You have allowed me to fulfil dreams that I never thought as a Leicester City fan I ever would.

Every business, though, has its peaks and troughs, and as a 64-year-old fan, believe you me, I have seen plenty of troughs. But it is how troughs are dealt with that businesses are judged by, and these days football clubs are businesses.

However, I have to say most businesses do not hold onto staff once that business starts to fail, no matter how successful they may have been in the past. Top, you really need to take charge and make changes or you risk ruining your family's legacy at the club.

Yes, you cleared a lot of debt for our club, but this is debt that was accrued under King Power ownership. A tally of 11 managers in 15 years of ownership speaks volumes.

There has been your chasing of Graham Potter, followed by what seemed a rushed appointment of Steve Cooper, the early sacking of Cooper - an appointment you publicly criticised - and the failure to act in sticking by Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has to be the worst manager in the clubs history.

How are Susan Whelan, John Rudkin, Martyn Glover et al still at the club? Yes they have helped you through some dark times but as a group of managers it appears you don't know what you're doing.

I am sorry Top, but a free bottle of beer at the final home game this season will not cut it.

The fans are the lifeblood of any club, and our relationship is being destroyed.

Open up and talk to the fans. We have no idea what is going on. Tell us.

Find more from Chris Forryan at Leicester Till I Die, external

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Leicester midfielder Wilfred Ndidi is available for a £9m relegation release clause this summer.

The 28-year-old's clause was activated last weekend when the Foxes lost 1-0 to now-champions Liverpool and were relegated to the Championship with five games to go.

Leicester have since lost 3-0 away at Wolves and the Nigeria international is among several members of the squad now considering his future.

The Midlands club feel well placed to revamp the squad with release clauses rare at the King Power Stadium and only three players out of contract - goalkeepers Daniel Iversen and Danny Ward, along with legendary striker Jamie Vardy, who has announced he will leave Leicester after 13 glorious years at the club.

Ndidi, meanwhile, had interest from clubs like Marseille and Everton while available on a free transfer last summer.

However, Leicester managed to sign Ndidi to a new three-year deal last summer. He was signed in 2017 in a £17m deal from Genk, but the pressure from interested parties likely led to the inclusion of a release clause as part of his most recent deal.

Ndidi has won an FA Cup and the Championship last season while at Leicester and has played 27 times in all competitions during this campaign.

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Former Leicester City striker Matty Fryatt believes it is "going to take a lot" to turn things around at the club, with Ruud van Nistelrooy's side suffering another heavy defeat against Wolves just six days after their relegation back to the Championship was confirmed.

"I've said there was a gulf in class before, but there were oceans in this game," Fryatt told the When You're Smiling podcast. "They looked miles off it in terms of fight, spirit and everything you would want.

"It's not like all of a sudden there's going to be a wake-up call and these players are going to start playing. If that was ever going to be the case, why haven't they done it up until this point?

"I wasn't expecting a massive change but I at least thought there would be a bit more fight and determination. It was a resignation in terms of relegation - everyone had seen it coming for weeks leading up to it."

Leicester took the Championship by storm in 2023-24 but have not been able to transfer the positivity from that campaign into a Premier League survival bid.

"It's going to take a lot to turn this around," Fryatt said. "The Championship shouldn't be feared but there should be things in place to make sure they have got a good foundation. They are a long way from where they once were, but they can get back to that by making important decisions.

"A lot of it will depend on things financially because, for example, sacking two managers in one financial year is a huge hit - but something needs to be done.

"I didn't see anything in this performance that made me think Ruud is the right person to lead this team. Forget his illustrious playing career - he is an unproven manager and he has never been down at the bottom.

"The team looks soulless. They are lacking identity, style and fight."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Leicester City at Molineux.

Here are some of your replies:

Wolves fans

Sara: Wolves made Leicester look woeful. The fitness levels between the two teams were clear to see. There are happy people in Wolverhampton at last. Matheus Cunha was the standout - he just wants to please the fans! I hope he stays.

Steve: Cunha is going to be jumping off a ship sailing to much better times and joining the Titanic.

Cordelia: Thank you Vitor Pereira for coming to Wolves and giving our players the confidence to play and show off their skills. We always knew they were quality but now everyone can see it. Leicester fans - good luck next season.

Kieran: What a run. We need to buy Vitor lots of pints - what a turnaround! If we back this man in the summer, just think of what we could do.

Espirito: People are praising this team like they have beaten a team at the top of the table, but we have not. We should be beating teams like this to little fanfare and it just shows how far the club has fallen. We don't need nor want Cunha. Let another team deal with his attitude. The same goes for Jose Sa and Toti, otherwise we will be in this position again.

Leicester fans

Chris: We are 'using these games to prepare for next season' according to Ruud van Nistelrooy. So obviously picking loan player Facundo Buonanotte who definitely won't be with us next season and giving Jamie Vardy another 90 minutes when we know he is leaving makes perfect sense, right? The whole club is a joke. As for the performance, I don't think the players could have put less effort in if they tried. But not trying is a bit of a theme.

Nathan: Is this the worst and most unlikable Premier League team ever? Yes. A record-breakingly bad manager, a board that seems not to care, and players who seemingly cannot play the game. Can we just forfeit the remaining games because we will lose them all by at least three goals and will be unable to score?

Tom: One word: awful. From top to bottom, it's toxic. We need new owners, management, coaches and players. It is going to be a long few seasons with hard times and hard work to get the club stable at the least.

Christy: A club in all sorts of trouble. The manager appears to be clueless, the players nowhere near the standard required, the coaching staff do not seem to understand this standard and the people who run the club make far too many errors. They should really think about putting Leicester City up for sale.

Mark Chapman presents highlights and analysis from Saturday's five Premier League fixtures, which saw Ipswich Town's relegation from the top-flight confirmed.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentary from Newcastle United 3-0 Ipswich Town on BBC Sounds.

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Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the defeat: "I look at the performance and that wasn't good enough. I don't talk about it football-wise, but I talk about it in terms of intensity and duels. We had many easy ball losses in possession, especially in the first half.

"In the second half, yes we conceded two goals on the break but we were better in those areas. But today wasn't good enough."

On making a triple change at half-time: "At half-time, Facundo [Buonanotte] had to come off with concussion. Ricardo Pereira had to come off with an injury. Then before half-time, Bobby De-Cordova Reid had to come off as well. It is a shame and shows how tough this season has been, with [Stephy] Mavididi also getting injured. Now those two are injured and there's a concussion.

"We are fighting towards the end of the season."

On what he said to the players at half-time: "I had to address the things I shared with you, that it is not acceptable. How intense you press, how intense you make a duel and how easy the ball losses are that are going to create lots of transitions where you have to recover. Those things don't require talent.

"That was addressed and then we went into the second half where we had the penalty with Jamie [Vardy]. That was so unfortunate. I really wanted him to score to get us back into the game, but also for himself. That summed the game up.

"The Brighton and Liverpool games were positive, but today was not so it isn't consistent enough. Also, it is a matter of course to keep that motivation and focus going for the team.

"There is a lot to play for, like Jamie [Vardy]'s last games. Supporting our captain should be enough motivation to push out everything that is left.

"We look at the 17 teams above us and acknowledge that we weren't at that level. That is very clear - we have to accept it and move on."

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Leicester City have conceded first in 29 of their 34 Premier League games this season, the most by any side in a single 38-game campaign in the competition.

The Foxes have lost 24 Premier League games this season. Only in 1977-78 and 1994-95 have they ever lost more in a single league campaign in their history (both 25 games).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Leicester's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Chelsea v Everton (12:30)

• Brighton v West Ham

• Newcastle v Ipswich - BBC Radio 5 Live commentary

• Southampton v Fulham

• Wolves v Leicester

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How can you back against Wolves here? They are the Premier League's most in-form team based on the past five games, while it is an awfully long time since Leicester enjoyed a victory full-stop.

Pablo Sarabia's brilliant free-kick gave Wolves their win at Old Trafford last week, and I don't think that result surprised anyone.

There is talk about Matheus Cunha leaving them to join Manchester United in the summer, but you would think he would set his sights a bit higher.

Leicester's relegation was confirmed by their defeat against Liverpool and, from top to bottom, the club is in a mess.

They are only playing for pride now, and I don't see them getting any points here.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Jamie Vardy is not on any Major League Soccer club's discovery list as attention turns to his next destination.

The former England striker will leave Leicester after 13 years when his contract expires at the end of the season, having scored 198 goals and won the Premier League with the Foxes.

But no club in the MLS currently has him on their discovery list, which gives them first refusal over a player should they want to join.

Chicago Fire had Neymar on their list - and held talks with the Brazil international's camp before he made an emotional return to Santo in January - while Inter Miami have Kevin de Bruyne on theirs.

A club may have up to five players on their discovery list at any time and can add or remove players.

Vardy enjoys a good relationship with Charlotte FC boss Dean Smith, who he worked with at Leicester, and Smith tried to sign him last year. Charlotte are currently top of the Eastern Conference.

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Former Leicester City winger Mark Albrighton says his ex-team-mate Jamie Vardy, who this week announced that he will be departing the Foxes at the end of his season, is a hero.

"I wouldn't say it is a sad day but certainly one that a lot of fans will be struggling to come to terms with and that is fully understandable," he said on the Leicester City Football Forum podcast.

"You speak to fans, and get a picture of their last 10 years. Some of them started supporting through the good times, and these are young kids, and Jamie Vardy is their hero.

"All of a sudden, they are going to come to games and he is not going to be there and that is going to be difficult to accept."

Albrighton, who was part of Leicester's Premier League title-winning side in 2016 alongside Vardy, says that given the striker's mentality, it is no surprise that he has opted to leave the club after they were relegated from the top tier this term.

"I spoke to him after the game against Liverpool at the weekend and he more or less told me his plans," he said.

"It wasn't a shock to me, but I think he felt the timing was right.

"He would have wanted to do it in better circumstances, and he felt the relationship there had run its course. It's now time for Jamie and Leicester to move on to new things.

"I look back at when I called it [time on my career] and I couldn't have had it any better.

"I look at this and yeah, it might just take the gloss off it in terms of the relegation, but I think there is enough time between now and the end of the season to appreciate what he did for the football club."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Former Leicester chairman Jon Holmes has been reflecting on "extraordinary character" Jamie Vardy's career at the club after it was announced on Thursday the striker would be leaving at the end of the season.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's Football Forum, Holmes said: "I've been watching since 1957, the hero then was Arthur Rowley. At the end of that season he unexpectedly left and Rowley is our second-highest scorer. We have now reached the situation where we have the third-highest scorer leaving the game and that is Jamie Vardy.

"He is truly a legend of the club. What he has done for Leicester in the last 13 years is extraordinary. The way he has conducted himself, he is a true hero. He is an extraordinary character who has brought so much joy to Leicester fans. Joy to me, I have to say.

"He is a player you watch and he makes you smile, makes you laugh, you can empathise with him and he shows all his emotions. Truly, he is player that not only looks like a player but he looks like one of the fans. When he plays, all his emotions come out.

"Vardy is an old-fashioned, working-class hero if you like.

"He is the kid form Sheffield, came to us and looked rough and ready. He looked like a player that had come from outside the league.

"The first season, I can remember watching him and, although there were bits there that were raw and he did score a few goals, he looked out of place. He didn't look like he was going to make the step up. Apparently he felt that himself at the end of that season.

"But, the first game of the next season, we played Middlesbrough away and he scored the winner in what became a signature goal for him. On the way back, I phoned Alan Birchenall and I said 'we have a new player'. That was the start."

Listen back to the full show on BBC Sounds

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We asked for your views on Foxes legend Jamie Vardy's decision to depart when Leicester's season ends.

Here are some of your comments:

Alex: You can use many words but the best one is legend. What Vardy has brought to Leicester is more than any other fanbase will realise, not just the goals but the passion, love for the club and helping us winning trophies. We've seen him grow from that non-league player to our greatest ever to wear the shirt. Do the right thing Leicester and build the statue of him outside the stadium.

Tom: One word. Legend. Best player we have had in my lifetime and I doubt there will be anyone who comes close. From the wonder goal against Liverpool to winning the league and going on a European tour - all would not have been possible without Vardy. I will miss him winding up away supporters, particularly Spurs. Good luck Jamie, and please come back in a management role of some sort and fix this mess.

Philip: He has served the club brilliantly. I will remember him bullying Manchester United in 2014. I was sat in a Greek bar, six Man Utd fans and me - what a great game for him! Many great memories, but above all, his loyalty to the Foxes. My best wishes to a great wind up merchant!

Linda: He means the world to us! We go to every home and away game, and at the away games we are always asked the same thing: 'Is Vardy playing?' Thank you Jamie for everything. It won't be the same without you.

Vinny: I would have to say Vardy's never give up attitude and marksmanship at the peak of his powers make him stand out. He grew into his role at Leicester City. Initially, I thought he wouldn't be that spectacular - but his tenacity became unmatched in the Championship and then the Premier League. My most memorable performances from him were against Man Utd at home to turn the game on its head in a 5-3 win during the 'greatest escape' year and his spectacular volley against Liverpool on our way to the title the following season. A true Leicester great and the fiercest competitor.

Graham: A true Leicester legend. He 100% Stuck by us over the years when he could have moved on but chose to stay out of respect and love for Leicester. He'll go down in our history forever.

James: It's time. Some 13 years at any one club is virtually unheard of, not to mention all of the success he brought. For the sake of his legacy and reputation, it's for the best he goes on his terms before the fans start to turn. And like that, an era draws to a close, thanks for everything JV9, and good luck.

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Football journalist Henry Winter has shared his tribute to Jamie Vardy after the Leicester striker confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.

"He's just one of life's characters," Winter told BBC Radio Leicester's fan forum.

"I don't think in the time I've known him he has particularly changed. He's down to earth, he's great fun, and look at what he has achieved, particularly from a slow start.

"It's nine years since the title run and it was just amazing.

"Everyone talks about his physical pace but there was a mental speed and agility that set him apart.

"He's got seven Premier League goals this season. It hasn't been a vintage season for him but it's not been a vintage season for the club.

"When you look at Jamie Vardy play, he does give everything. He leaves the field with sweat on his shirt every time. He's still got a role left in him with another club.

"I know Leicester fans and I know when he returns one day, even in the colours of another club, he will get a big salute because he absolutely deserves it. He is Leicester's greatest ever player.

"The legacy he will leave at the club is Foxes never quit. The legacy is for all of us in life - just never give up, persist, because fairytales do come true."

Kate Blakemore
Fan writer

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It is hard to know where to start when writing about a GOAT as it is incredibly difficult to put down on paper. Honestly, it is impossible to say in a few short words how much joy this man has brought for me, my family and my football club.

Jamie Vardy is the perfect amalgamation of fan and footballer - the kid that had dreams like all of us. It has been an honour to witness firsthand his 13-year highlight reel.

I have listed a few of my personal favourites here (in no particular order as that is too hard):

• Manchester United at home in 2014 - his first Premier League goal in an unforgettable 5-3 victory

• West Bromwich Albion away in 2015 - an injury-time winner; a major factor in the 'Great Escape' season

• Liverpool at home in 2016 - a tremendous volley on the road to the title.

When one thinks of Vardy, what immediately comes to mind is an abundance of ability, pace, character, tenacity and 'celebration engagement' with the away fans.

The flying eagle against Crystal Palace, 'howl' to Wolves fans, corner flag guitar playing, running the length of the pitch to bow to the away fans, his '1-0' to Tottenham fans only as recently as January, and there is many more.

As an away supporter, he is the man that you hate to love and love to hate.

But aside from all that, Vardy has been the spearhead of an era where all of our dreams became a reality, including his own.

A non-league £1m 'punt' by Nigel Pearson in 2012, soon followed by a 5,000-1 win of the Premier League title and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals. He led us through it all as a true professional. His impact and loyalty to this club will be unrivalled during my lifetime.

Vardy puts personality in football, something that has sadly become a dying breed, and he showed his unmatched loyalty to the club when 'better' offers were on the table.

He is Leicester's heartbeat and now, in this sad moment of relegation, it is time to move on and find a new sign of life.

Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

Find more from Kate Blakemore at Leicester Till I Die, external

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