Marti Cifuentes could be poised for dismissal at Leicester City if his team fail to overcome Derby County on Saturday.
Sources have informed Football Insider that Leicester are seriously weighing up sacking Cifuentes, with the Foxes sitting 16th in the Championship after a miserable beginning to the season.
The East Midlands outfit had hoped to push for immediate promotion back to the Premier League following last year’s relegation, but a nine-point gap to second-place Middlesbrough continues to widen.
Cifuentes is currently the strong favourite to be the next Championship manager removed from his post, with key figures at the King Power Stadium rapidly running out of patience.
Russell Martin is among the names mentioned as a potential successor at Leicester if the Spaniard is dismissed, with the Englishman available after being sacked by Rangers in October.
Marti Cifuentes under heavy pressure before pivotal Derby showdown:
Leicester parted ways with Ruud van Nistelrooy in June after the Dutchman failed to steady the situation created under Steve Cooper.
The Foxes had shown more resilience than the other relegated clubs from the Premier League but still finished 13 points short of safety.
Marti Cifuentes | Leicester City
Wins: 6
Draws: 6
Losses: 6
Scored: 22
Conceded: 23
Cifuentes was selected to take over from Van Nistelrooy after the Spaniard left QPR by mutual agreement.
The 43-year-old enjoyed an impressive spell at Loftus Road, but exited once reports surfaced that he was exploring other opportunities.
His tenure at Leicester, however, has been far from impressive. The Spaniard’s side have secured only six league victories this season and suffered back-to-back defeats to Southampton and Sheffield United last week.
A third straight loss could represent the breaking point for Leicester’s hierarchy, with the trip to 11th-placed Derby crucial for Cifuentes’ prospects.
Lee Hendrie urges caution over potential Cifuentes dismissal:
Cifuentes knows better than anyone that results need to improve. The Foxes are already slipping in the chase for play-off contention and could find themselves dragged into a relegation fight if the slide continues.
But Lee Hendrie believes the Spaniard merits a bit more time. “I think that Leicester will know that they’ve got quality in the squad, and it’s not good enough at the moment, but I think they have to stick with him,” the former Fox told Football League World.
“They have got a talented squad, but I do feel that sticking with the process and, you know, he has shown signs that they can get, and they will get results.
“But, I just think that the situation they’re in, I think they might have to stick with him as well. And I think it will come through.”