Judging by comments that have been written on Leicester City Football Club’s high profile social media accounts, Foxes fans are rightly increasingly turning on the outfit. The latest mini-scandal involving the King Power team involves charging to stream friendly fixtures.
Maybe superpower sides such as Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea can get away with this type of behaviour due to their size and following. Yet the east Midlanders’ ownership should do more and think differently in order to ensure that their own supporters are not taken advantage of. The Blue Army literally support them financially, and this most recent outrage, although slight, is unacceptable.
Leicester City faithful have had enough with how club being ran
Behind the scenes management and hierarchical structure at Leicester City FC was widely lauded over the modern era. The infrastructure, quality and care brought to LCFC by the late, great Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was unimaginably classy. The Thai businessman’s methods were revolutionary; an inconceivable and timeless Premier League triumph transpired fairly soon under ‘Khun Vichai’s’ authority and mastery.
Following a dreadful and fatal accident taking ‘the Boss’ at the stadium he loved and helped make increasingly significant in English football, his son took over. The Blue Army expected Aiyawatt, or ‘Khun Top’, to ascend the King Power thrown both here and in Asia. He did so; Top also had the full backing of my fellow Foxes.
I don’t think the 38-year-old has done a bad job at all over his roughly five and a bit years as Leicester chairman. He had the unenviable task of filling his father’s very admired and revered position. He also dealt with televised tragedy involving the most disastrous circumstances and personal loss on the grandest of scales.
Some of Vichai’s better practices have been upheld on Filbert Way. There are benefits for the faithful, along with, on occasion, free gifts and fun days. Naturally, Top has his own ideas; to alter aspects and to go in different directions is his prerogative.
However, what is clear is that the outfit has been in what feels like a very steady decline for a few years now. Maybe the unpredictable Premier League relegation was actually more foreseeable. Subtle indicators such as charging more for what felt like cheaper merchandise and replica strips emerged. Going into vast debt is also particularly alarming.
The choice of strange partners like obscure financial organisations with betting companies as sponsors is unpalatable for many of us fans. While some don’t like the family club moniker – it is preferable to being non-profitable empty shell of an establishment. But we are not quite in that state yet though, don’t worry.
Anyway, it is unacceptable to seemingly rip off or extort the fan base which keeps the club afloat. And we easily see through the veneer of attempting to imitate the big six, partly because it won’t work and is unnecessary at present.
Another reason for backlash is that LCFC need funds desperately for Profit and Sustainability rule breaking issues. Leicester owners might perhaps now be accused of exploiting supporters’ loyalty and funding to help ease their own errors and potential punishments.
There were questionable decisions taken with regard to team matters as well. Dean Smith’s appointment was a mistake before it even occurred. Both Smith and new manager Steve Cooper are closely connected to rival Midlands sides too, which makes them automatically unpopular choices. LCFC is a bit of a mess on and off the field at the moment to be fair. Ironically, that’s partly thanks to Enzo Maresca – in a positive and negative sense. Though I certainly consider Cooper a potential partial ray of sunlight.
The owner can still turn his tenure into a more memorable one, in spite of an aloof seeming relationship. Nonetheless, I cannot forget that Top oversaw an historical FA Cup win – but he must retain compassion whilst being realistic and grounded. Imposing a £10 streaming fee for a friendly against Shrewsbury is arguably acquisitive and definitely naive, especially when this service has always been free.
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