It’s about time some of the respected and still connected former Foxes start telling The King Power International Group how they are letting the club down. Of course, not all of the ex-players who still feature on bland and uninspiring LCFC media platforms like Matchday Minus Two and other pre and post-match shows want to risk speaking their minds.
Those currently employed by Leicester in pundit roles prefer to keep collecting their paychecks or freelance fees and avoid endangering a comfortable role. And to be fair, that’s somewhat understandable.
However, those of us who financially support Leicester City Football Club and who would never sugarcoat the truth — we deserve honesty and transparency from our analysts and former stars.
That’s why I was genuinely pleased to see Emile Heskey’s comments about the Leicestershire side and the club in general. This is his home; it’s where his remarkable career began. And as expected, the retired England striker spoke with refreshing honesty.
Naturally, I wasn’t thrilled to hear him predict that we won’t secure promotion from the Championship back to the Premier League this season. Still, his assessment of how City manager Marti Cifuentes’ job has been made more difficult was absolutely accurate.
So, what exactly did the 47-year-old say about LCFC and the challenge ahead for Cifuentes?
Leicester City icon Emile Heskey outlines how Marti Cifuentes has been let down:
Heskey currently serves as the Head of Football Development at Leicester City Women. Whether that remains the case after his latest remarks is uncertain — as he boldly claimed that the Leicester Men’s Team boss, Cifuentes, wasn’t given the proper “tools” to do his job effectively.
That’s quite something. Essentially, a man who once played for the club and still works within the organisation has openly criticised the level of support afforded to the new manager. Awkward, indeed.
“When Leicester appointed Cifuentes, and with any successful managerial appointment, you have to build a side that he wants and give him the tools to do his job… I think they need to consolidate for now and see where they can build from after that. Sadly, I don’t think that this is the season Leicester will get promoted” — [Heskey, via LCFC Live]
That quote says it all. Heskey hit the nail on the head — and it’s refreshing to hear such honesty from someone whose voice might actually carry weight.