THE SON WILL RISE
Former City owner Mandaric backs Aiyawatt to keep Foxes on Top
MILAN MANDARIC is backing Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s son to continue his family’s successful football “mission”.
Serbian-american businessman Mandaric sold the Foxes to the late Thai billionaire in 2010 for £39million.
The decision paved the way for Srivaddhanaprabha to bankroll a “revolution” which saw Leicester crowned Premier League champions two years ago in the greatest football story ever told.
But the club has since been plunged into tragedy following Saturday’s fatal helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium (Vichai’s name on a Foxes fan’s shirt, right).
It claimed the lives of all five passengers aboard, including chairman and owner Srivaddhanaprabha.
His son Aiyawatt (below with striker Jamie Vardy) is now stepping up from his position as vice-chairman to run City and his father’s duty-free business empire.
Mandaric (below) has backed Aiyawatt, known as Top, to continue to invest in the club. He told Mirror Sport: “Top is a very intelligent young man. He is very like his father.
“He knows football is not just any type of business, but there are emotions involved. Leicester is in safe hands under him. Knowing Vichai, Top has got the same determination as his dad to continue the mission.
“I am sure all of the Leicester fans will support him too in the absence of his father.”
Mandaric says he was determined to sell Leicester to the right owner after his previous exit from Portsmouth.
Mandaric sold to Alexandre ‘Sacha’ Gaydamak in 2006, before debts spiralled to over £100m amid a succession of brief, ill-fated regimes, which led to administration and relegation from the Premier League in 2012.
But Mandaric was able to watch with pride as Srivaddhanaprabha helped Leicester to the title and into the Champions League as they upset the traditional super-powers (Buddhist monks pay tribute to the late chairman, below). Mandaric added: “I felt from the beginning he was a good man who would take care of the football club. He really did and created a revolution in football with the team winning the title – it was an incredible story.
“I am so sorry for the family and everyone connected with Leicester now, it is a great club. I feel a big sorrow to lose a man like that.
“He was a good human being and we will miss him greatly because we developed a relationship. It was important to me when I was looking to sell that I found an owner to take care of my legacy.
“I am still very unhappy with what happened at Portsmouth. In my mind Portsmouth couldn’t happen again.
“So I was going to make sure with Leicester I found the right person.”