Paulo Sousa is Favourite for Walkers Hot-Seat

Paulo Sousa has emerged as a hot favourite for the Leicester City manager’s job with persistent betting activity driving down the odds.

Swansea chairman Huw Jones commented: “I have never had a letter, an email or a phone call from anybody at Leicester City.” but a story is circulating that Sousa watched Leicester’s play-off semi-final home leg against Cardiff in May as a guest of Milan Mandaric. If true, this would throw new light on Nigel Pearson’s departure.

A spokesman for Mark Jarvis bookies claimed: “The word on the street is that Paulo is the man for Milan and that’s reflected in his odds. I think the problem the fans have at the moment is that they don’t know to what extent these potential investors will be involved. They don’t know if they are looking at a complete takeover or just playing some part in the club’s future with Mandaric still at the helm.”

Paulo Manuel Carvalho de Sousa had an impressive playing CV, with Benfica, Juventus and Inter among his clubs. He was also capped 51 times for Portugal.
After a short spell as manager of QPR, Sousa moved to Swansea last Summer, the Swans narrowly missing out on a play-off place.

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Nigel Pearson Leaves Leicester

It has now been officially confirmed by Leicester City, manager Nigel Pearson has left the club.

After two seasons in which Pearson led City promotion from Division Three and then into the Championship play-offs he is leaving for Championship giants Hull.

The following statement was issued by Milan Mandaric: “We were greatly surprised to receive the initial approach from Hull. The past few years have been a turbulent time for both me and the supporters at Leicester City.
We have been striving to get a degree of continuity at the Club; however, Nigel has done a fantastic job for us and it would have been wrong of us to deny him the opportunity to speak to another club if he wished.
After speaking to him, we have reluctantly agreed that if he wished to pursue this opportunity at Hull, we would permit it. I am deeply grateful to Nigel for everything he has done for the club. He has put together the foundations of a strong squad and it is now up to us to find a manager to build on those foundations.”

 

New manager betting:

6-4 Billy Davies
7-2 Paul Lambert
5-1 Paul Ince, Darren Ferguson, Gerry Taggart
8-1 Simon Grayson
10-1 Lawrie Sanchez, Mike Newell
12-1 Sam Allardyce
14-1 Peter Reid, Mark Robins
16-1 Joe Royle, John Gregory
20-1 John Collins
40-1 Steve Walsh.

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Thai Buyers, Nothing in Reserve and Bring Back the Birch

Nigel Pearson will probably be named as Hull City manager today. So we should be asking ourselves what has driven him to decide that Hull City, a club with financial problems of their own in the same division as Leicester, are a better option?

Here are some of the stories doing the rounds, can we make a picture out of the jigsaw pieces?

* Alan Birchenall, the Birch, has been relieved of his duties. He’s been the club’s PR man since 1984 and he is an invaluble backroom member, having a great effect on morale and providing a vital link between the club and the supporters. Whatever he was being paid, it was money well spent. But do you know what? He’ll probably carry on doing it for nothing, because he genuinley loves this club.
The Birch also provided a bridge between Nigel Pearson and Milan Mandaric & Lee Hoos, as their relationship apparently became ever more distant.

* Gerry Taggart recently left for Oldham Athletic to be Paul Dickov’s number two. There are rumours that reserve team football is to be done away with in a cost cutting exercise, leaving Reserve Team Manager Taggart with no job.

* Leicester’s worst kept secret is that a procession of Thai businessmen have been ferried to the ground by taxi. They have had a good look around the place, do they like what they see?
We’re hoping so, because everything is pointing to another dire financial situation at our club.

* Which brings us to our owner and ‘saviour’ Milan Mandaric. Where is he? Is he really in the back of a Land Rover with his binoculars trained on a giraffe as we are told? Or have one of his three charges of cheating the public revenue finally put the wind up him? Will he actually be back? Is anyone in charge? Why has the Official Website made no comment on Pearson’s imminent departure, trying instead to flog tickets for our up coming glamour friendly against Sunderland?

Questions, questions….!

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Is Nigel Pearson On His Way?

There are very strong rumours circulating this evening linking Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson with the vacant Hull City manager’s post.

Sky Sports News have mentioned the story, as well as Ian Stringer on Radio Leicester and it seems to be gaining credence.
Pearson has seemed unwilling to sign an extended contract at Leicester for the last few months, with little financial backing this season, and may be attracted by Hull’s parachute payments after the Humberside’s relegation from the Premier League last season.

A post on the Hull City Online messagboard claims: “100% confirmed, will be announced within the next few days. Not a rumour mill, definite fact. Good appointment in my eyes. Bringing his assistant Shakespeare with him. Good luck to them.”

It would be a blow to lose Pearson, who steered City out of the Third Division in his first season and then made the Championship play-offs in his second… but as we always say - If you don’t want to be at Leicester City, then sod off with our blessing.

To subscribe to The FOX for the 2010-11 season and claim your free limited edition print send a cheque for £14.00 to:
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City Open at Palace

The Championship fixtures were released today and City will kick off the 2010-11 season away at Crystal Palace on Saturday August 7…

The first home game sees Middlesbrough visit the Walkers Stadium the following Saturday, and the tough looking start continues with a trip to Burnley and then Reading at home.
Boxing Day brings Leeds to Filbert Way, while New Years Day takes City to Hull.
The final game of the season is Ipswich at home on May 8. 

Full fixture list can be found here: http://www.thebluearmy.co.uk/news/Leicester-City-start-trip-Crystal-Palace/article-2318491-detail/article.html

City’s First Signing of the Summer

City have announced the signing of out-of-contract Rochdale left-back Tom Kennedy on a free transfer.

Kennedy, who played for his home town club Bury before moving to Spotland in 2007, signed a three year deal yesterday.
The nephew of former Liverpool star Alan Kennedy, TK has twice appeared in the League 2 team of the season and is highly rated at that level.
With Chris Powell retiring and Ryan McGivern returning to Manchester City, the 24 year old will provide cover for Bruno Berner in the left back position.
Kennedy told the official club website: “It was a pretty straightforward decision in the end. The other clubs were good but when Leicester City come calling you don’t turn them down.”

Good lad!

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Lennon and Dickov in New Jobs

Former City favourites Neil Lennon and Paul Dickov both have their feet under the manager’s desk today…

Lennon, who was the midfield-engine of Martin O’Neill’s City side, was officially unveiled as the new manager of Celtic this morning, having been appointed caretaker manager in March following the sacking of Tony Mowbray.
“The challenge is to try to unite the support again. What I want to bring is the thunder back. I want this place rocking again.” Lennon said.
Celtic chairman John Reid explained the delay in appointing the former Northern Ireland international.
“We considered, we debated, we maintained dialogue with Neil throughout that. On every occasion our head brought us back to where our heart had started, we came back to Neil Lennon.”

Meanwhile, in the less salubrious surroundings of Boundary Park another press conference was naming Paul Dickov as player/manager of Oldham Athletic.
The striker, who was twice signed by Leicester in 2002 and 2008, commented: “I know it’s going to be hard but I want to succeed; everything I’ve done in my career has been by giving 100 per cent.”

The One That Got Away – City’s Liverpool Signing

Liverpool striker John Toshack signed on the dotted line for Leicester City, as reported in the Daily Express in 1974…

However, given the amount of enthusiasm Toshack appeared to have for the move to Filbert Street we would imagine no one was more relieved than the Welsh  striker when he failed his medical and returned to Anfield.

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