Leicester City sack Steve Cooper LIVE – Appointment timeline, next manager odds, Potter latest

Van Nistelrooy ‘approach’

Leicester City have reportedly approached Ruud van Nistelrooy to ‘explore the negotiations margins’.

According to journalist Rudy Galetti, the Foxes are evaluating their options, that includes David Moyes. However, Van Nistelrooy is said to be the ‘priority’.

What the fans are saying

City fans have been having their say on the manager’s dismissal on social media. Here are a few of their responses…

Adachris: Any coach that is hired has one, and only one, mission: save us from relegation. We have to collect anywhere between 24 and 30 points from the games left to play. It is a very tall order already because we are way way behind.

Southern Fox: I just hope we have thought this out and got a replacement lined up. Don’t know if Ruud VN is any good but at least he looks the part

Arthur2sheds: Not sure if the current crop of players are good enough, maybe the new manager can fix things, and hopefully have some cash in the January transfer window.

Fox in the box: Does anyone think Lee Carsley is being considered!!?

Jimmyklcfc: If we go for Moyes be a bad idea

Mojo2173: The football gods have finally smiled upon LCFC and got the owners to do the right thing before it’s too late.

FoxFanNY: It’s unfortunately a good move, assuming they hire a decent manager. Cooper was never taking us back to Europe, but I thought he could keep us up. It’s clear he can’t. Strange player personnel decisions, poor game planning. Credit to the board for taking this action now and not after Christmas when it might be too late.

Why Cooper was sacked

Leicester City felt they needed to sack Steve Cooper to give themselves the best chance of Premier League survival, LeicestershireLive.

The timing is a little surprising, given City have just come through an international break and that they remain outside the drop zone. However, there has been concern in the hierarchy around the level of performance and it was felt a change in manager was required to ensure the club had the best chance of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship.

Cooper’s struggle to connect with the supporters and the players is also understood to be a factor in the club’s decision. Fans have not taken to Cooper, perhaps in part because of his Nottingham Forest links, with boos greeting the final whistle at many home games, and with chants of “Cooper, sort it out” and “this is embarrassing” at away fixtures.

Why Cooper has been sacked now

Giving City the best chance at survival was the leading consideration in the club’s decision to part with Cooper after just 12 games.

There have been concerns over the quality of performances and with improvements not on the horizon, there was a fear that City would slip into the relegation zone. The chairman was present at yesterday’s clash with Chelsea and acted on Sunday.

Another factor is Cooper’s struggle to connect with the squad and supporters.

Get all of the details here.

Ruud is ready if required

Ruud van Nistelrooy has quickly been installed as the odds-on favourite for the Leicester City job, following the club’s decision to part with Steve Cooper on Sunday. Cooper leaves the King Power Stadium having won just two of his 12 games in charge, and the club have decided to move on after the defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

The new manager, whoever that is, will inherit a side which is currently sitting 16th in the Premier League and winless in four. Van Nistelrooy, indeed, enjoyed two wins over the Foxes during his own interim spell in charge of Manchester United in the space of the last month; the Dutchman took over the reins temporarily after the sacking of compatriot Erik ten Hag.

You have your say

In the end, it all became too much. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea were easy 2-1 winners on Saturday, and the Foxes board have now decided to act in time for the new man to use the January transfer window to aid his recovery plan. Of course, whether it will be enough, remains to be seen.

City fans have been having their say on the manager’s dismissal on social media. Here are a few of their responses…

Graham Potter is ‘ready’ to return

Graham Potter is many people’s favourite and frontrunner to replace Steve Cooper at Leicester. The former Chelsea boss was reportedly in pole position to be appointed in the summer prior to Cooper’s appointment.

Potter remains out of work after leaving Chelsea 19 months ago but the 49-year-old has confirmed his desire to return to management. “It still has to be the right thing, but I’m excited for it,” he told The Telegraph.

“I’m excited to hear what the opportunities are and I’ll take each one and judge it on its merits.”

More insight on Cooper’s sacking

BBC Radio Leicester’s Owynn Palmer-Atkin has revealed Cooper’s sacking comes after the situation was closely monitored by the club hierarchy for ‘some time’.

A failue to connect with players and fans have been a concern.

Cooper’s final words

Steve Cooper leaves Leicester City 24 hours after the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea. The Foxes were second best throughout and didn’t register a shot on target until Jordan Ayew’s penalty.

“It’s one of the toughest games so far this season and proved to be that challenge. The first 30 minutes were a challenge and for all of the defending that we had to do, we ended up giving away a really soft goal,” Cooper said after the game.

““The biggest change we needed in the game was what we did with the ball, because when we did show enough quality and courage, we ended up creating two chances and that was giving us the belief to do a bit more and not just creating chances but having good spells on the ball.

“Half-time was about giving that message. We changed one or two things defensively, we needed to open up the game a little bit and when you do that, you risk Chelsea being in full flow with the players that they have. You know they can do damage.

“In general, we did okay at that, but it was at the other end that we needed to really improve. We’ve ended up creating moments in the game, but we’ve had two decisions that go against us.”

Bookmakers’ favourites

Sky Bet’s odds have changed a number of times already since Cooper was dismissed, so bear with us.

But as of 4.35pm, Ruud van Nistelrooy is the favourite to become the next Leicester boss at 10/11. Graham Potter is 3/1 and David Moyes at 6/1. All three are currently unemployed.

In the list, ex-England interim boss Lee Carsley is an interesting name. Jose Mourinho, imagine, is 25/1 and Erik ten Hag, who recently left Man United, is 33/1.

Leicester’s statement in full

At 3.50pm, Leicester released their statement confirming Cooper’s departure.

The statement read: “Leicester City Football Club has parted company with Steve Cooper, who leaves his position as First Team Manager with immediate effect.

“Assistant Manager Alan Tate and First Team Coach and Analyst Steve Rands have also left the Club. Steve, Alan and Steve depart with our thanks for their contribution during their time with the Club and with our best wishes for the future.

“Men’s First Team training will be overseen by First Team Coach Ben Dawson, supported by coaches Danny Alcock and Andy Hughes, as the Club begins the process of appointing a new manager, which we hope to conclude as soon as possible.”

Hello

Well then, who saw that coming?!

Leicester City parting ways with Steve Cooper has surprised many today. The Welshman was always at risk having been a questionable appointment at the time but it came out of the blue.

City are 16th in the Premier League after the defeat to Chelsea. Fortunately, there are 26 games remaining.