In a twist typical of Leicester City's wild recent history, The Telegraph's ultra-reliable John Percy reports that the club is now in advanced talks with Gary Rowett to take the managerial reins. This movement comes as the Foxes grapple with the fallout of a crushing six-point deduction that has plunged them into the EFL Championship's relegation zone. For the King Power faithful, this latest blow feels like the culmination of long-standing friction with football's governing bodies.
See you in court
Around eighteen months ago, LCFC secured a stunning legal victory that left the Premier League "surprised and disappointed" - more like devastated! In September 2024, an independent appeal board ruled that the top flight lacked the jurisdiction to punish the club for a suspected breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) relating to the 2022/23 period.
The exploited technicality, lauded in the law community, hinged on the fact that Leicester had been relegated to tier two before their accounting period ended. This notion effectively placed them beyond the league's reach.
While the East Midlands side claimed they were merely ensuring rules were applied as written, a significant portion of the Blue Army viewed subsequent charges as a targeted vendetta by the EPL and EFL authorities. However, the 'Get out of jail free' card has definitely expired now!
Eventual punishment
This term, the Leicestershire outfit were hit with new charges concerning the three-year cycle ending in June 2024. In spite of pleading for leniency, City were docked six points for exceeding loss thresholds by roughly £20.8million.
Leicester City fight back?
Percy indicates that the club is in fact weighing up a further appeal following the frightfully impactful deduction. Though such a move is said to be fraught with risk. Legal experts and sports analysts, including those at The Athletic, have highlighted that the independent commission's framework includes a "non-increase" principle that is not absolute.
"Last week, Leicester were hit with a six-point deduction for breaching the Football League’s financial rules. The club is understood to still be considering an appeal."Percy - The Telegraph
If an appeal is deemed "frivolous" or if the process unearths previously undisclosed aggravating factors, the appellate body has the theoretical power to increase the sporting sanction. Football Insider recently suggested that after the already applied docking, the Foxes are unlikely to face further charges this campaign.
This offering Rowett a clear, if difficult, path to survival should he be appointed on Filbert Way. The one-time Fox (he played for Leicester at the turn of the millennium) actually threw cold water on the suggestion of late. That was before he ostensibly rejected Blackburn Rovers.