In a development that has left Leicester City supporters reeling, chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha has assumed a new interim role at the club, sparking widespread speculation over his future amid swirling rumours of a Saudi takeover.
While the takeover whispers have yet to be substantiated, the change in Top’s position signals more than just a routine shuffle.
Top — who has overseen the club since inheriting control after his father’s tragic passing in 2018 — has temporarily stepped into the chief executive role after the departure of long-serving CEO Susan Whelan earlier this month.
With Whelan’s 14-year tenure drawing to a close, Top’s dual responsibilities raise questions about where the power really sits and whether the club is about to embark on a new era.
In his first programme note as acting CEO, Top wrote:
“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get closer to the operation across the club in recent weeks, to recognise what’s working well and where we can be stronger. Together with the club’s leadership team, we’ve been focusing on maintaining stability day to day while preparing to take some important next steps in how we move forward, which I look forward to sharing with you. Our ambitions, and our long-term commitment to pursuing them, remain as strong as ever.”
Noticeably absent from the message? Any mention of Whelan, the change of guard, or the future of the leadership structure. While Whelan has remained publicly silent, club legends such as Jamie Vardy, Wes Morgan, and former manager Nigel Pearson have all paid tribute to her at the same time as the club tries to project forward motion.
The timing of this shift is raising eyebrows—not just among fans, but in media circles too. Rumours of Saudi investment have circulated for months, with some sources suggesting a takeover could be on the cards.
However, there is no concrete deal at present. Instead, the picture emerging is one of financial caution: reports reveal that the club’s parent company, duty-free giant King Power International Group, is under pressure in Thailand amid soaring losses and may need to reorganise its structure.
Those same reports confirm that Top has stepped down as Chief Executive of King Power and moved to a group executive role — a reshuffle that has sent shockwaves through the Foxes’ fanbase.
For supporters, this moment resonates deeply: a familiar figure still in charge, but in an apparently diminished capacity; a beloved club still governed by legacy, but perhaps facing an uncertain future. The bigger question looms: is Top preparing the club for long-term stability internally — or is he clearing the way for new investment and sweeping changes?
Until the bigger picture becomes clearer, Leicester City fans are left in limbo — holding on to memories of better times and waiting for the club’s next move.