adminLeicester City are facing questions about their future after a disastrous period that has seen the club fall from the heights of English football into a crisis few supporters could have imagined just a few years ago. With pressure mounting and frustration growing among the Foxes faithful, uncertainty continues to surround what comes next for the struggling club.
Three relegations in four seasons have left Leicester in an alarming position, with the club sitting 17th in League One after just eight games. The decline has been difficult to ignore, and with another disappointing result against Peterborough United adding to the growing concerns, attention is turning towards the people responsible for getting the Foxes back on track.
But while speculation continues to swirl around the club’s future, one major question remains unanswered: could a change behind the scenes be on the horizon? Leicester City chief football officer Jon Rudkin has now addressed the growing takeover talk, offering a response that sheds light on the situation surrounding owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.
Rudkin spoke during a rare interview with BBC Radio Leicester on Saturday, before Leicester suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat to Peterborough United.
The defeat added to the growing pressure surrounding the club, but when asked about speculation over a potential takeover, Rudkin declined to discuss the rumours in detail. Instead, he insisted that the club’s owner remains committed to Leicester City.
“I can’t make any comment on speculation,” he said. “All I would say is that Khun Top is very committed here at Leicester City.
“We’ve witnessed that through the summer. He’s very keen on the day-to-day running of the club, the actions we’re taking with regard to the improvements we’ve made, from the learnings we’ve established.
“The ambition is still there. He’s very focused, regularly in contact with us and wants to see the club progress and get promoted and see us back playing in the Premier League.”
Aiyawatt, widely known as Khun Top, has been in charge of Leicester since the tragic death of his father, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, in 2018.
The Srivaddhanaprabha family’s King Power International group bought the club in 2011, beginning a remarkable period that saw Leicester achieve unprecedented success.
Under the family’s ownership, Leicester won the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season against extraordinary odds, before adding the FA Cup in 2021. The club also enjoyed memorable European campaigns and established itself as a major force in English football.
However, the situation has changed dramatically in recent years. Three relegations in four seasons have left Leicester struggling in League One, a far cry from the heights they reached during their most successful period.
The club’s current position has raised serious questions about how Leicester can rebuild and return to competing at the highest level. While takeover speculation continues, Rudkin’s comments suggest that, at least publicly, the club’s leadership remains focused on the existing ownership and the task of securing promotion.
Rudkin also addressed his own role in Leicester’s decline, accepting that he shares responsibility for the disappointing period the club has experienced.
Having been part of the football leadership for several years, he acknowledged that he had witnessed both the club’s greatest moments and some of its most difficult times.
“I have been part of the football leadership for a number of years and witnessed some amazing times and also some disappointing times,” he added.
“As part of my reflection, I accept my share of the responsibility over that period. It’s my responsibility to ensure we learn from it and that across the footballing structure we have clear accountability.”
His admission comes at a difficult time for Leicester, with supporters increasingly concerned about the club’s direction following their latest defeat.
Despite the criticism and uncertainty, Rudkin maintained that his priority is to help Leicester recover and eventually return to the Premier League.
“My focus is very much to get the club back on track and take us back to the heights of the Premier League in the future. But our immediate focus is to get promoted this season.
“The fans care about this club and it is natural for me to receive criticism. It is important that we listen, respond to that criticism and act on it.”
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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