'Will he or won't he?' is the question on every Leicester City fan's lips right now, as supporters ponder whether chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha will indeed sell the club following Thursday's eye-opening announcement. While the vast majority of vocal fans on social media have long called for The King Power International Group to step aside, concerns had already been growing years ago since initial relegation from the Premier League following disappointing summer transfer window highlighted by signings like Wout Faes, Ryan Bertrand, Patson Daka and Jannik Vestergaard.
The final proof that King Power could arguably no longer manage the side effectively came when a points deduction triggered a second successive relegation. Even so, the situation remains bittersweet for many supporters: with many still deeply valuing the incredible achievements the Thai businessman's family has delivered to Leicestershire over the years.
Highlights such as the Premier League title, FA Cup triumph, European adventures and the state-of-the-art Seagrave training ground stand as lasting symbols of what the ownership has built in LE2. Earlier this week, reports confirmed that "Top", as the chairman is widely known, is actively seeking potential buyers with the help of investment bankers at Citigroup.
Finding a suitable buyer for an English football club is no simple task, as it is obviously far more complex and expensive than selling a car or a house, and requires immense wealth to sustain operations properly. There is, however, positive news for fans, with confirmed interest coming from unnamed local property developers as well as a mysterious party from the Middle East.
What Leicester City chairman Top said about selling the club
With news of the sale process now public, it is striking to recall what the chairman had to say about his future at the club just six months months ago. Back in late January, the 40-year-old insisted he was not going anywhere while the team struggled, and stated that he would only leave if he could hand the outfit over in a much stronger position.
"Now I need to make sure the club is in a good place. If some prince comes in, maybe yes, and the club can be like Man City for example! But I am sure that is a long, long way to go. I still love it here, I want to make sure the club is successful again."Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha - LCFC Live
Top openly expressed his affection for Leicester City: comparing his bond with the club to that of a father to a son, and claimed he would only ever consider selling to someone of similar stature to the wealthy owners of Manchester City. Yet presently, with previous commitments seemingly forgotten, it appears his pledge to rebuild the club may have been empty, or simply became unsustainable due to business difficulties he is currently facing in Asia.
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