Leicester City was one of the clubs to get relegated from the Premier League during the 2022/23 season.
The Foxes sealed a 2-1 win over West Ham United in the last league tie but still finished two points behind 17th-placed Everton.
Leicester’s latest setback means several of their players have to sort out their futures in the next window. Het Nieuwsblad focuses on four Belgian players, including Wout Faes, who arrived at the King Power Stadium from Stade de Reims last summer.
The center-back has been a regular, making 39 appearances in his first season in England. It’s claimed the 25-year-old star is in the ‘most difficult position’ because of his contract, which expires in 2027.
The time left on his deal wouldn’t make it easy for the Belgium international to find a new club and may have to settle for the Championship with Leicester next season.
The other three players are Youri Tielemans [contract expiring in June], Timothy Castagne, and Dennis Praet. The latter two could look for a way out of Leicester in the summer, with the first simply walking away from King Power Stadium.
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Foxes Trust Board comment on relegation and the message from the Club’s Chairman
The Foxes Trust Board is pleased that Leicester City’s Chairman published a statement following the Club’s relegation at the weekend.
All Leicester City fans will, of course, be disappointed and concerned that the Club has been relegated. Relegation has been a fairly frequent experience throughout the Club’s history, but for it to happen this season has understandably surprised and shocked many.
There has been much said and written about the reasons why relegation happened. Like any other fan, individual Foxes Trust Board members each have their own views on this. The purpose of the Trust is not to second-guess football-related decisions made by the Club. It is to ensure that the Club is run effectively and well and to help ensure that Leicester City never experiences some of the catastrophic financial and governance issues which have impacted so many clubs recently and, indeed, impacted our club as recently as 2002.
Since taking over in 2010, King Power and the Srivaddhanaprabhafamily have gained a reputation as owners who have delivered un-heard of footballing success for Leicester City, have been cited as role models for commitment to the local community and who have been prepared to invest in the infrastructure of the Club. We doubt whether any Leicester City fans back in 2010 anticipated a Premier League win, an FA Cup win, and many marvelous nights in Europe. In that context, we welcome the Chairman’s statement of an ongoing commitment to the Club.
Set against that narrative of success, however, this season’s surprise relegation is doubly disappointing, and we encourage the Club’s owners and Board to make a thorough assessment of the lessons to be learned from how it became possible. The immense financial impact of playing in the Championship will have a significant impact on the Club and it is essential that any failures identified in that assessment, whatever they may be, are addressed to ensure future stability and a platform for future success for the Club. We also encourage the owners and the Board to make public their views on those lessons learned in due course, to enable scrutiny and provide reassurance about the long-term sustainability of the Club.
To use a well-worn phrase: we are where we are. Leicester City will be playing in the Championship in 2023/24. The Foxes Trust Board encourage all Leicester City fans to get behind their team as the season starts and to provide the support to help that period of stabilization and future success begin.
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