Leicester City face major changes after relegation, says Jonny Evans
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Leicester City's Jonny Evans (right) is one of several players from the club who are out of contract.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Leicester City defender Jonny Evans has admitted that the former Premier League champions face major changes after their relegation to the Championship.
The Foxes were condemned to the second tier on Sunday after Everton’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth rendered their 2-1 victory over West Ham United irrelevant.
Leicester are only the second former EPL champions after Blackburn Rovers to be relegated from the top flight, and their fairy-tale title success seven years ago
Many players, including Evans and Youri Tielemans, are out of contract and look set to leave the King Power Stadium in the close season.
England midfielder James Maddison and talented winger Harvey Barnes are likely to be sold to help balance the expected financial losses of at least £60 million (S$100.7 million).
Maddison, 26, has been linked to clubs like Newcastle United, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, while Barnes, 25, is reportedly a target for teams including Aston Villa and West Ham.
Foxes boss Dean Smith also faces an uncertain future, with his short-term contract set to expire. He replaced Brendan Rodgers in April.
Evans revealed the Leicester squad had said their goodbyes in the dressing room ahead of a likely close-season exodus.
“It is a tough thing to take. There was silence for a long time in the dressing room afterwards. We know there are a lot of players out of contract,” said the 35-year-old.
“There are going to be a lot of changes in the football club. It was an opportunity for everybody to say goodbye. A lot of us don’t know where we are going to end up.”
Meanwhile, Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has vowed to lead his club back to the Premier League as they come to terms with their relegation.
He claimed angry fans have sent him offensive messages calling for him to sell the club.
But the Thai businessman insisted he would remain in charge and promised to put Leicester back on track next season.
“I have received a massive number of messages from our fans, both positive and negative,” he said. “Some want me to sell the club, some using offensive and thoughtless words, and some have been outright abusive.
“But, for every hurtful message I have received, I have also received messages of support, of appreciation, of unity, both remotely and from people I have met anonymously in public.”
Aiyawatt’s father Vichai and his family bought Leicester in 2010. Club chairman Vichai was killed in a helicopter accident outside the King Power Stadium in 2018.
“I made a commitment to pursue the ambition my father and I shared for the club,” Aiyawatt added.
“Next season is going to be tough, but it will be a year for collaboration and unity.
“We will come together and fight to return to the Premier League.”
Leicester will be in Singapore for a pre-season friendly against Liverpool at the National Stadium on July 30. AFP
