Foxes want Dyche to save them
SEVENTEEN months ago, Leicester were basking in the glow of becoming Premier League champions. But this morning they are hoping a new manager – their third since – can help them escape relegation.
Leicester, third from bottom with one win in eight games, sacked Craig Shakespeare yesterday, eight months after he replaced Claudio Ranieri. The club have been a mess since their magical title triumph and now they want to poach Sean Dyche from Burnley to steer them to safety.
Shakespeare, 53, had no idea that the rug was about to be pulled from under him after taking charge of the 1-1 home draw with West Brom on Monday night. He went into work as normal yesterday and oversaw a behind-closed-doors friendly match at the club’s Belvoir Drive training complex.
But he was called in immediately after that and seemed visibly shaken on being told that his time was up.
Shakespeare was appointed as caretaker boss last season after Ranieri’s fairy-tale spell in charge ended in the sack on February 23.
The Italian’s No2 took over the reins and ended up steering the Foxes away from trouble to finish 12th in the league and to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. He was given the job permanently on June 8, signing a three-year deal. But his run of results since have been far from impressive and there were boos around the King Power stadium after the draw with West Brom.
That result made it six games without a win and the mega-rich Srivaddhanaprabha family decided enough was enough. Michael Appleton will be in charge of the first team as caretaker manager for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Swansea City, supported by first-team coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler.
Leicester vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said in a statement: ‘Craig has been a great servant to Leicester City – during his spells as an assistant manager and since taking over as manager in challenging circumstances in February. His dedication to the club and to his work has been absolute and the contribution he made to the most successful period in Leicester City history is considerable.
“However, our early promise under Craig’s management has not been consistently evident in the months since and the board feel that, regrettably, a change is necessary to keep the club moving forward – consistent with the long-term expectations of our supporters, board and owners.
“Craig is, and will remain, a very popular and respected figure at Leicester City and will be welcome back at the King Power Stadium in the future, both professionally and as a friend of the club.” There will be no shortage of interest in taking over a club in rude financial health. Former manager Nigel Pearson is not among the contenders but Carlo Ancelotti, a candidate before the appointment of Ranieri, is someone who is admired. But with a CV that includes Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich, where he was recently sacked, it is unlikely that the Italian would fancy seeing out his career at Leicester. Former England manager Sam Allardyce, Wales boss Chris Coleman and Alan Pardew are all likely to be interested. But Dyche is the man who fits the bill and may feel now is the right time to move on from Turf Moor.