Marti Cifuentes was said to need time to turn things around at Leicester City, as Khun Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha discussed the future of the Spaniard as manager of the Foxes.
He received just four hours.
In a rare media interview on Sunday morning with BBC Radio Leicester, Khun Top revealed he and the club’s leadership would be meeting with the 43-year-old Cifuentes later that day.
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Khun Top attended a match at the King Power Stadium for the first time in months, where Leicester suffered a 2-1 defeat to struggling Oxford United, leaving them in 14th place in the Championship.
He acknowledged that “it’s clear we need to improve quickly” to compete for a play-off position, admitting their initial goal of automatic promotion to the Premier League was no longer viable.
“The current performance is insufficient, and no one expected Leicester to find themselves in this situation,” Khun Top stated during his interview on BBC Radio Leicester.
“The players and the team need support, that much is evident.”
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However, discussions about improvements on Sunday morning did not hint at the urgent decision that awaited when Cifuentes was summoned for his meeting later that same day.
“He should be performing better, but he requires time to do so,” Khun Top noted when asked about Cifuentes’ six-month tenure.
“We must assist him. But it’s understood that football is a results-driven industry, and we must quickly provide him with the necessary support and solutions.”
When questioned about his support for Cifuentes, the owner added: “I hope to converse with him and assess the situation together with the entire club, and then we can hopefully find a way forward.”
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The apparent solution: part ways with Cifuentes.
This decision was something that many Leicester fans had been calling for, particularly as the Foxes struggled in their return to the second tier.
Under Cifuentes, the team managed back-to-back league victories only twice.
Having previously experienced a top position during their last relegation season, this time around, they find themselves 31 points worse off than they were under Enzo Maresca, who left for Chelsea after guiding the team to promotion.
As the club commemorates the ten-year anniversary of their astonishing 5,000-1 Premier League title victory, they currently rank among the poorest Leicester teams of the last three decades.
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They last had fewer points in the second tier after 29 games during the 2007-08 season, finishing with a mere 34 points before suffering relegation to League One.
“Our inconsistency is concerning,” Khun Top remarked.
“We can perform exceptionally well and poorly within the same match, and that needs to be rectified. I believe we can identify the underlying issues affecting our position, but it is crucial that we implement changes and do so quickly.”
‘Challenges Extend Beyond the Coach’
Jamie Vardy, pictured receiving a commemorative ornament from Khun Top during his final home game for Leicester, dedicated over 13 years to the club [Getty Images]
However, Cifuentes’ role in Leicester’s decline is only a small fraction of a broader deterioration within the club, as former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt pointed out, noting that problems extend beyond just the managerial position.
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One individual close to Cifuentes remarked that the manager has been working “with one hand tied behind his back” due to insufficient investment in rebuilding the squad for another Championship campaign. This followed the sales of Mads Hermansen, Kasey McAteer, James Justin, Wilfred Ndidi, and Conor Coady in attempts to adhere to spending regulations.
Additionally, the club struggled to replace Jamie Vardy, the legendary striker and former England international, failing to secure a suitable successor despite ample time for planning.
Leicester was one of only three teams in the division, along with Oxford and the financially troubled Sheffield Wednesday, that did not spend on permanent summer signings.
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The club is facing accusations of violating profit and sustainability regulations stemming from their promotion to the Premier League in 2024. This situation, along with attempts to balance the books, has limited Cifuentes’ available squad.
These challenges might lead to more repercussions, as a decision regarding potential points deductions related to the charges has yet to be made.
The team now under the interim management of Andy King faces a complicated reality.
But as they navigate the remainder of the winter transfer window, questions remain about how Leicester will manage to strengthen their squad amidst these constraints.
“We must make prudent investments and manage the rules to comply with profit and sustainability regulations,” Khun Top stated.
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“We need to identify available quality players, but it’s necessary to approach this correctly, which is quite challenging given our limitations.”
Cifuentes’ Departure Was Expected, Although the Timing Was Surprising – Analysis
Owynn Palmer-Atkin, BBC Radio Leicester commentator
While the timing of the announcement on Sunday afternoon caught many Leicester City fans by surprise, the eventual departure of Marti Cifuentes did not.
Chairman Khun Top previously indicated that Cifuentes “needed time” and “quick assistance.” After the interview, a meeting was held where it appeared that the Spaniard could retain his position if there was alignment with ownership.
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Clearly, that alignment was absent.
There is a general recognition that any manager stepping into the King Power Stadium faces a formidable challenge. The club is in a state of complete transition and requires significant restructuring to secure a return to the Premier League.
Currently, there are concerns about a potential relegation battle with a possible points deduction looming.