Since being sacked by Leicester, Steve Cooper's stock appears to have significantly risen since then. As is, the reasons and timing of when he was let go were spotty at best. Under Ruud van Nistelrooy, things have very quickly gone from bad to worse.
This sometimes happens in managing. The best career move can be doing nothing and waiting at home for the phone to ring, asking for your services again. For all of the troubles going on at City at the moment, there can't be too much blame on RvN (LCFC as a whole makes it easy to spread it around), but this isn't to say that the Foxes would be still in contention with Wolves to stay up in the Premier League either.
The nature of how sports work can be cruelly twisted at times. Cooper was relieved of his duties in November and now appears to be on the verge of being asked to guide another Championship side. According to Birmingham World, Southampton are highly interested in the former City boss. As the heavy current favorite to land with the Saints, his hire would afford him the chance to then compete against the Foxes next season.
Coaches try not to think of this aspect, but an element of proving that Leicester got it wrong in letting him go is likely to at least be in the background of his mind when that happens. The reception at King Power Stadium is going to be an interesting dynamic to tune in for on his eventual return.
At this moment, LCFC appears to have jigged when they should have zagged. What was once a doable task in staying up is now only mathematically possible on a technicality. City felt the need to get rid of Cooper when they did. It now appears that he is not only the hottest commodity in the market but will also have something of a chance to exact his revenge on the Foxes.