Puel hails supporters for tribute march for chairman
CLUB SET TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR A PERMANENT MEMORIAL
LEICESTER City manager Claude Puel has saluted the thousands of fans who will be walking to the King Power Stadium today to honour Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Up to 20,000 supporters are expected to walk from Jubilee Square to the stadium ahead of City’s match with Burnley in a tribute to the chairman who lost his life in the tragic helicopter crash a fortnight ago after the match against West Ham.
Puel believes the walk, which begins at 12.45pm, is proof of the unity in the city.
“There’s been great support from all of the football community,” said Puel. “I want to say thank you to them.
“We know our fans, they are fantastic. There were 3,000 away for our last game (at Cardiff).
“It was fantastic, a fantastic connection with the fans after the game. It was a lot of emotion we shared with them.
“We can imagine the support for this game at home with 30,000 people. They are planning a tribute walk with 20,000 people.
“It’s fantastic, all this shows the intensity of their soul and the togetherness we can have with our fans.
“Our fans, club, staff, players, we are united at this moment.”
Puel added that the tributes from fans around the world was helping to keep spirits high in the City squad.
“All the different support of our fans and people can help the club and players to keep going,” he said.
“We have to honour our chairman and to continue his dream and work in the future, but in this moment, all the support is very important. We appreciate it a lot.
This shows the intensity of their soul and the togetherness we can have with our fans
Claude Puel
“We would like to thank all our fans and all the different supporters.” Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s family will attend today’s fixture, the first at the King Power Stadium since the devastating helicopter crash. Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, City vicechairman and Khun Vichai’s son, better known as “Top”, will be present, flying to the UK following the conclusion of his father’s seven-day funeral in Bangkok.
At the King Power Stadium, the family will witness several tributes to Khun Vichai, including a video, a commemorative banner and a minute’s silence, with the club also set to announce plans for a permanent memorial.
City boss Claude Puel is pleased the family will be there to receive the tributes.
“I think most of his family will be here,” said Puel.
“They will be here to receive all the support from the fans, the club.
“It’s important to have all the family together on Saturday and to support and to honour our chairman.”