Leicester City Football Club, also increasingly dubbed 'Tone-Deaf FC' among its own disillusioned supporters, are ready to baffle and bamboozle the Blue Army once again. Time and time again - they get it drastically wrong. Much of the support believe chairman Aiyawatt (Khun Top) Srivaddhanaprabha is totally out of touch; and often out of reach. This is why the Foxes' own manager search risks yet another fan revolt.
Leicester City ownership supposedly eye former Southampton and Rangers boss as new Foxes head coach and fans won't like it
While Russell Martin has reportedly expressed interest in the City vacancy, his potential appointment is met with significant trepidation among the LCFC faithful. Despite of a 'Championship cheat code' reputation for promotion and ball retention, the disconnect between his philosophy and many supporters' expectations is rooted in three key areas. They are: rigid tactical dogmatism; a concerning recent track record; not to mention what could be labelled as general 'possession fatigue'.
"Apparently, Russell Martin is one of the candidates for Leicester,” Brown told Football Insider. “He’s been linked with a move back to the Championship for a while now, it’s something he wants to do and this would be an opportunity for that to happen."Football Insider
In the wake of "Enzoball" (Enzo Maresca's footballing philosophy), City loyalists have developed a complicated relationship with ultra-possession or progressive football. While the Italian delivered promotion, a 'slow-moving attack' and sideways passing became polarizing on Filbert Way when results dipped, in spite of a record breaking season.
Martin's style is often designated as an even more extreme version: his recent teams often record high possession statistics, but low effectiveness. This regularly translates to a brittle defence, along with a lack of urgency.
After a turbulent period under various managers, many in LE2 crave a return to the high-intensity, counter-attacking identity that defined the club’s greatest successes. As opposed to more 'robotic' and methodical build-up play.
Recent history and reliability
Martin's recent stock has taken a hit. His Premier League tenure with Southampton was marked by tactical inflexibility, scrutiny and a dreadful defensive record which led to his ultimate dismissal. Furthermore, a brief and drastically unsuccessful spell at Rangers in late 2025 further damaged his profile. Essentially the 40-year-old struggles when pressure to deliver immediate results is highest, and he has a lesser rated roster.
For a Leicester side grappling with potential points deductions and financial instability, a high-risk manager notorious for conceding sloppy goals feels like a gamble the club cannot afford to table. Ultimately, the Leicester hierarchy is searching for a figure to unite a 'mutinous' mood; the word "experienced" was thankfully mentioned here:
Told Leicester will target experienced candidate to succeed Cifuentes, with King in charge during the interim (this is info I *do* trust) #lcfc
— Tom Collomosse (@TomCollomosse) January 26, 2026
Profile mismatch and rejection
The City faithful generally see Martin as a manager who requires the best players in the league to make his system work. Whereas the East Midlanders' currently 'rotten' squad needs defensive organization, rigidity and a pragmatic spark.
To many, Martin represents potential regression: a preference for aesthetic stats over the grit required to navigate a survival battle or a promotion dogfight - while optics and tangibles are abandoned. Ironically, these elements probably make him ideal for the King Power fools whose heads are in the clouds.