adminIn a shocking first interview in ten years, Leicester City chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha left fans and the board stunned, pointing fingers at key figures behind the club’s decline and revealing what he calls his biggest regret with the Foxes.
Speaking candidly at King Power Stadium, Top didn’t hold back, exposing mistakes, missteps, and missed opportunities that have left Leicester struggling in the Championship.
Top’s appearance marks a seismic shift in communication at the club. While he won’t hold weekly press conferences like the manager, he promises to speak more openly and regularly a move fans have been demanding for years.
Leicester City’s Thai vice-chairman vowed on May 18 to make “amazing” signings in the close season as the Foxes prepare to defend their title and tackle the rigours of Champions League football. / AFP / CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT (Photo credit should read CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)
Sitting in a box before a City Women match against West Ham, Top was animated, emotional, and at times almost unguarded.
He reflected on recent struggles, including the painful defeat to Oxford, and recounted his late father Vichai’s ambitious promise that Leicester would finish in the Premier League’s top five within three seasons of promotion a target they surpassed by winning the title in just two.
“I should have been more open with supporters,” Top admitted. “Holding back on communication was a mistake, and for that, I apologise.”
But he didn’t stop there. He defended director of football Jon Rudkin, stressing that no single individual is to blame for poor signings or decisions, and outlined the squad’s lack of experience in relegation battles as a major factor in the club’s struggles.
Shockingly, Top also blamed the Covid pandemic not just for financial damage but for how it has changed football and the world. “People have less patience now,” he said. “Social media has made everyone more vocal, more demanding. Even I’ve received threats and complaints it’s the reality we live in.”
Top didn’t shy away from managerial controversies either, including the departure of Enzo Maresca. He argued that the club must maintain its underdog mentality, warning that complacency has been Leicester’s greatest enemy.
Throughout the interview, Top’s love for the club shone through. “We have to push everything to the limit to do right by Leicester,” he said. “We can’t rely on reputation we have to earn success through performances on the pitch. Complacency will kill us.”
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
