According to Bookmakers, via news outlet Leicester Mercury, Leicester City Football Club are not amongst the two sides expected to attain automatic promotion from the Championship in 2025/26. In fact, odds makers don't even have the Foxes in the four remaining Playoff places either for that matter. Nevertheless, and regardless of public opinion, City will indeed seek an upgrade to the promised land of the Premier League once again.
So why aren't LCFC one of the favourites to be in and around the top of the English second division? Can we put any stock into assessments and forecasts? Will Leicester actually gain promotion from tier two? And which teams are therefore considered likely to do so?
Managerial uncertainty at Leicester City
It is said that current Foxes boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's sacking is impending. But he remains in charge; even whilst currently in the Netherlands and without domestic football.
The unknown leads to negative conjecture and subjective scrutiny in the media. Not to mention more objective analysis in the form of Bookmakers' appraisals consequently being formed.
Funding issues, Profit and Sustainability problems
The more stable C'ship sides out there who have come close to or deserved promotion will then of course leapfrog Leicester in predictions. The fact that LCFC may be less active or productive in the tranfer market is a terribly bad omen at the King Power.
Naturally it becomes increasingly difficult to pay for or attract premium senior players or quality prospects in this situation. Unfortunately the Bookies are probably right about City in this instance - they typically are in these scenarios.
The teams anticipated to be challenging in the Championship
Although, now I'm wondering which outfits are expected to eventually be promoted. LCFC Live suggest it is 'unsurprising', but relegated pair Ipswich Town and Southampton might perhaps win the division. The rest are as follows:
" ...beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United are third favourites.
Birmingham City, after a record-breaking season as they secured the League One title under the guidance of former City assistant manager Chris Davies, are fourth favourites for back-to-back promotions. Fifth favourites are Middlesbrough, who finished 10th this campaign and eighth the year before, missing out on the play-offs having lost in the semi-finals in Michael Carrick’s first season in charge.
Sixth favourites are this year’s beaten play-off semi-finalists Coventry City, Frank Lampard’s side undone by an added-time goal at eventual winners Sunderland.
City, with their longest odds for promotion at 9/2, are seventh favourites."