How Jon Rudkin became so influential, fortunate and hated at Leicester

Leicester City director of football Jon Rudkin is a very influential man at the club. I spite of many triumphs during his tenure, he is also hated, or at least much maligned, by a huge number of Foxes fans. And it is always seemingly the more in-tune, well-informed, vocal supporters who criticise Rudkin. The loyal ones who actually spend money to follow the LCFC team home and away. Is the criticism fair, does the City DoF deserve some respect and what's the truth to his seemingly immune or immortal role at Leicester?

Jon Rudkin appears to have eternal life at King Power Stadium. However the Foxes side performs, positive or negative in the extremes, he remains a constant. As director of football, Rudkin is never sacked for awful performance on and off the pitch. And he is apparently content to be on Filbert Way: when LCFC achieved greatness, he didn't seek a different, prominent position at perceived bigger outfits.

In truth, and on balance, Rudkin has been ultra successful at the east Midlands club. Along with being very unsuccessful on occasion. A contrast that any head of an organisation or powerful person must deal with in business. Even in one's personal life, that is the case. Nobody is perfect.

Evidently Rudkin is a private person, as explained in top LCFC source Rob Tanner's wonderful recent revealing article on the often Machiavellian appearing Foxes chief. Again, if the former wishes to be quite and shun the spotlight and interviews, he is at liberty to do so.

Although, that aloofness definitely contributes to the Blue Army's distrustful scrutiny of the one-time Leicester academy coach. The Foxes fan base have also been suspicious and displeased of the Wigston, Leicestershire-born man for other reasons. They include transfer mishaps for around seven years. This naturally lead to PSR issues. Oh and sacking Claudio Ranieri, albeit justified.

Not to mention an underrated detested element: being too stubborn to accept low bids for unwanted players who eventually leave for free. Supporting Brendan Rodgers' questionable philosophies for far too long is my least favourite factor of the DoF's character. The ruthlessness employed elsewhere was lacking.

In reality, ownership does instruct, concur or sign off on any major decisions Rudkin makes. That fact especially applies to hiring and firing staff. Yet the entire football side of things is, for all intents and purposes, the latter's domain. Some of us are of the opinion that he is, and has been, too powerful.

As Tanner wrote, the trust is there from LCFC chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha. Similarly to the confidence from his deeply admired late father Vichai. They saw that Rudkin was a particularly knowledgeable part of the club; one who had a panoptic view of everything youth football-related in the city and beyond. Someone who was plugged-in with a wide array of footballing contacts.

The Srivaddhanaprabhas also obviously desired privacy - that's why the unassuming, tranquil and inward Rudkin is entrusted with power. Former City star Matt Piper, who knows the modern outfit as intimately as anyone, suggests the 56-year-old is misunderstood. A man who can give the impression of ignorance, but actually has constructive tunnel vision.

And it looks as though Rudkin's world is truly LCFC. A man invested in the club who cares about its status. If he can bring prosperity back to the King Power, like winning the FA Cup, competing in Europe and even lifting the Premier League trophy - I'm OK with his reign.