Midfielder Anthony Grant returns to the Southend squad after a knee injury. Dougie Freedman says he's available, and wants a 50-match season, but that's another story.
James Walker, out with a hamstring injury since January, is nearing a return and could play in the reserves Monday.
| 1 | Leicester City | 43 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 39 | 14 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 23 | 25 | 14 | 4 | 77 | 37 | 89 | +40 | ||||
| 2 | Peterborough United | 43 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 38 | 20 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 36 | 32 | 24 | 10 | 9 | 74 | 52 | 82 | +22 | ||||
| 3 | Millwall | 43 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 6 | 31 | 26 | 24 | 7 | 12 | 59 | 46 | 79 | +13 | ||||
| 4 | Milton Keynes Dons | 42 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 42 | 24 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 38 | 22 | 23 | 9 | 10 | 80 | 46 | 78 | +34 | ||||
| 5 | Leeds United | 43 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 43 | 19 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 27 | 29 | 23 | 6 | 14 | 70 | 48 | 75 | +22 | ||||
| 6 | Tranmere Rovers | 43 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 40 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 25 | 21 | 9 | 13 | 59 | 44 | 72 | +15 | ||||
| 7 | Scunthorpe United | 41 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 40 | 22 | 9 | 3 | 9 | 33 | 34 | 21 | 7 | 13 | 73 | 56 | 70 | +17 | ||||
| 8 | Southend United | 43 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 27 | 18 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 40 | 20 | 7 | 16 | 55 | 58 | 67 | -3 | ||||
| 9 | Huddersfield Town | 43 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 17 | 12 | 14 | 56 | 60 | 63 | -4 | ||||
You may have heard by now that if Leicester win they get the ultimate double whammy of championship title and promotion while three points for the Blues is a must if any play-off hopes are to go into another week.
However, I'll be happy to stop any team celebrating at my home ground, so a 2-0 win please lads, and let the table sort itself out Saturday evening.
Blues boss Steve Tilson admits to having a rare selection problem having to choose between Grant and Jean-Francois Christophe in the centre of the park: "It's been a while since we had a selection headache but it's a nice problem to have."
Possible Southend X1: Mildenhall, Francis, Clarke, Dervite, Barrett, Scannell, McCormack, Christophe, Moussa, Barnard, Robinson. Subs from: Grant, Betsy, Joyce, Sankofa, Laurent, Freedman.
Here's Tilly again with the last word on how tough the match is especially when in Steve Howard and Matty Fryatt City have the division's most dangerous double act: "For me those two are the best partnership in our league and Leicester are the best team too. Fryatt and Howard work well together and both score goals. Somehow we have to try and keep them quiet but one look at the league table tells you everything you need to know about how hard the game will be for us this weekend. They are going to get promoted, there's no doubt about that but we don't want that to happen at Roots Hall and we want another good result"
Southend Utd. | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
OPPOSITION
Last Six Games
Leicester City | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 11 |
Defenders Bruno Berner and Patrick Kisnorbo, plus midfielder Astrit Ajdarevic, could come into contention after the hectic Easter schedule.
The Foxes assistant boss Craig Shakespeare says the crucial win over Leeds has given Leicester City just the psychological boost they needed to clinch the League One title Saturday.
He believes the six-point haul over Easter was a turning-point for City with the wins over Hereford and Leeds steadying a ship which was not really rocking much anyway, and extended City's lead over the chasing pack. The six points put City seven ahead of Peterborough and, when the dust settles, that haul over the holiday weekend will seem the key.
Shakespeare told the Leicester Mercury: "We have all seen some clubs where the Easter programme has built you up or knocked you back and, thankfully for us, it has been a big turning-point. Before that, the gap had been closing, now it has opened up again. We have come out of it with that massive win against Leeds which seems to have given the whole city a bit of a lift. Also, it gave the players a boost psychologically. They were under pressure to get that result at Hereford and they came out with a lot of credit, because we didn't play particularly well in the first half. But in the second they went about it the right way and we got the result we deserved. I thought we deserved to win the Leeds game, and the goal at the end epitomised the way we went about it from start to finish. The celebrations at the end from the players and the fans were a great boost for us, and that will give them a lot of confidence going into the next game."
City's club record 12 away wins this season means they will travel with no fear, and there is a feeling that they are virtually up. If MK Dons fail to win at Scunthorpe tomorrow or, indeed, slip up in any of their remaining games, City would be promoted regardless of what happens at Roots Hall. The Foxes though are determined to do it themselves, and not rely on other teams' results.
Shakespeare continued: "We are keeping the players focused and they will be professional over the last three games no matter what the situation is. The nine points left to play for are our target and that will not change."
PREVIOUSLY
The Championship brought the Foxes to the Hall for their last visit on March 2 07 when Macca equalised in the last minute, a minute or so after Leicester had scored what they must have thought was the winner in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
When we last played them at the Walkers Stadium on December 6 last year we were thumped 0-3 when we gave Fryatt the freedom of Leicester during our 'Lost' period. He scored his second succesive hat-trick having grabbed one against Dag & Reg the week before in the cup.
To end on a cheerier note where we scored three in Leicester, there's the Julian Hails hat-trick match of Sep. 23 Sep. 1995, remember it well!At Southend Utd. (5) At Leicester City (7) Results Total % Results Total % Southend Utd. 2 40.00 Leicester City 6 85.71 Leicester City 1 20.00 Southend Utd. 1 14.29 Draws 2 40.00 Draws 0 0.00 Goals Total Av.pg Goals Total Av.pg Southend Utd. 8 1.60 Leicester City 16 2.29 Leicester City 6 1.20 Southend Utd. 4 0.57 On Neutral Ground (0) Overall (12 matches) Results Total % Results Total % Southend Utd. 0 0.00 Southend Utd. 3 25.00 Leicester City 0 0.00 Leicester City 7 58.33 Draws 0 0.00 Draws 2 16.67 Goals Total Av.pg Goals Total Av.pg Southend Utd. 0 0.00 Southend Utd. 12 1.00 Leicester City 0 0.00 Leicester City 22 1.83 Records Highest Aggregate 5 Leicester City 4 - 1 Southend Utd. 1992/1993 Highest Southend Utd. score: 3 Leicester City 1 - 3 Southend Utd. 1995/1996 Highest Leicester City score: 4 Leicester City 4 - 1 Southend Utd. 1992/1993 Season Date Home Score Away Competition 2008/2009 Sat 06 Dec Leicester City 3 - 0 Southend Utd. League One 2006/2007 Sat 03 Mar Southend Utd. 2 - 2 Leicester City Championship Sat 26 Aug Leicester City 1 - 0 Southend Utd. Championship 1996/1997 Wed 15 Jan Leicester City 2 - 0 Southend Utd. F.A. Cup 1995/1996 Sat 09 Dec Southend Utd. 2 - 1 Leicester City League Division One Sat 23 Sep Leicester City 1 - 3 Southend Utd. League Division One 1993/1994 Sun 05 Dec Southend Utd. 0 - 0 Leicester City League Division One Sat 06 Nov Leicester City 3 - 0 Southend Utd. League Division One 1992/1993 Tue 20 Apr Leicester City 4 - 1 Southend Utd. League Division One Sat 05 Sep Southend Utd. 3 - 1 Leicester City League Division One 1991/1992 Sat 28 Dec Leicester City 2 - 0 Southend Utd. Second Division Sat 31 Aug Southend Utd. 1 - 2 Leicester City Second Division
REF
The man in the middle is Clive Penton of Sussex.
Clive is in his last season and dishing out more cards than usual, however his fitness level has been questioned by none other our old friend Neil Warnock.
The Palace manager was furious at the official's failure to award a penalty early in the second half for Tommy Miller's challenge on Nick Carle, when Palace were 2-1 behind. Warnock was so incensed he brought one of his backroom staff to his post-match press conference to show video footage of the incident, which he claimed should also have produced a red card for Miller. Warnock blamed Penton's fitness levels for his failure to give the penalty.
He said: "I'm disappointed. It was a major decision in the context of the game and he hasn't given it. Miller got nowhere near the ball. How the hell can't you see things like that? I think experienced referees should stay on but if Clive's not fit enough to keep up with play there, that's not on. I know it's his last year as a Football League referee but he has to be better than that. Games are changed by things like that. If it had happened at 3-1 or 4-1, then you wouldn't get any complaints. But 2-1? Dear me. I don't think we should have video evidence for penalties - I just think a referee should be able to see an incident like that and make the right decision."
FIXTURES
Tuesday, 21 April 2009; (all kick-offs 19.45): Bristol Rovers v Brighton, Northampton v Scunthorpe, Yeovil v Hereford
Friday, 24 April 2009: Leicester v Scunthorpe, 19:45.
Southend (11/5) Draw (5/2) Leicester (11/8)
HISTORY
In 1884, the year of the first public pay phone, Leicester City Football Club was formed - or to be more accurate Leicester Fosse Football Club was born. It cost two old pennies to make a three-minute call (50p in today's prices) and maybe the group of young men who decided to start the football team, were grateful to Alexander Graham Bell for his new invention. It meant if they were short of a nippy winger, they could phone a few friends!
In those days, most people preferred a different ball game - rugby. But this group of young men, associated with the old Emanuel Church in New Park Street, preferred the round ball game.
So Fosse was born, but during the first seven years, only friendly matches were played. Leicester Fosse played at the Racecourse, Victoria Park, Belgrave Road and Mill Lane, before ending up at Filbert Street in 1891. In 1908 they were promoted to the First Division - for one year only.
Leicester City Football Club rose from the ashes of Leicester Fosse in 1919. And within six years, under the leadership of one Peter Hodge, City won the Second Division and were back in the top flight.
In 1928, a season when City were full of international players - 47,298 fans packed into Filbert Street for an FA Cup tie against Spurs.
They were good years for City who stayed in Division One up until 1935. The yo-yoing began and City were promoted in 1937 only to find themselves relegated again two years later.
After World War Two, City once again had the task of getting themselves back into Division One. But they struggled and nearly found themselves plummeting into Division Three. It was 1949 when in the last game of the season they avoided that drop. But it was a good cup year for City - they reached the FA Cup Final only to lose to Billy Wright's Wolves 3-1. A City star of that time was Don Revie, later to become a legendary manager at Leeds United.
In the 1953-54 season, City won the Second Division and were back in the top flight, but, yes, you've guessed it, they were relegated the next season. But City were not destined to become just another Second Division side and in the 1956-57 season were promoted again. Goal-scoring machine Arthur Rowley, yes the former Blues promotion winning manager, hit 44 goals and City were at the top to stay - for a while at least, until 1969.
City had manager Matt Gillies to thank for the good times. The club reached three FA Cup finals and two League Cup Finals. They won the League Cup in 1963-64 beating Stoke City over two legs.
City were known for having great goalkeepers - first Gordon Banks and then Peter Shilton.
City began the 70s in the Second Division but were soon promoted again. During the decade Frank O'Farrell took over as manager, then joined Manchester United and Jimmy Bloomfield replaced him. Entertainment came to Filbert Street in the shape of Frank Worthington, Alan Birchinall and Keith Weller. Bloomfield, though, was sacked in the 1977-78 season and Frank McLintock was brought in.
It was an unhappy time for the Scot and City were relegated. McLintock didn't seem to know what he wanted, using 40 players in the season.
Jock Wallace replaced him and started to re-build Leicester City. A young striker called Gary Lineker was given his chance and in the season 1980-81, City were promoted back to Division One. The pressure was too much for a young City side, and yes, they were relegated again.
But it was a good City side and Gordon Milne, who replaced Wallace, bought Alan Smith to bolster the goal scoring. Smith and Lineker were a potent force.
The yo-yo years continued with Bryan Hamilton and David Pleat taking turns in the managerial hotseat. Hamilton saw City relegated before Pleat took over.
The early nineties almost saw City slip into Division Three under Pleat. City then appointed the Darlington manager Brian Little - and City were once again to re-build for the future. 1991-1992 saw a Leicester City revival. Brian Little brought in five new faces during the summer for the sum of £160,000. The gamble paid off, as it had with his previous club Darlington who achieved consecutive promotions with from the Conference through to the old Third Division. City started the season very brightly and after the first five games they were sitting in second place with thirteen points and having conceded only two goals. However, a heavy defeat away to Middlesbrough saw City lose confidence, picking up only three points from a possible 18 during a terrible month which saw them drop to 12th place. Things weren't looking good.
Steve Thompson was brought in by Little in time for the match against Oxford United. Little gave him his debut from the bench, and he scored, automatically earning himself the number eight jersey. The signing of the influential Steve Thompson helped to stop the season slipping away and they produced a great run of results which saw them second in the table on the last day of the season, vying for automatic promotion into the first ever Premier League season. They faced Newcastle, who were playing to avoid relegation, at Filbert Street. Steve Walsh was on the scoresheet twice but unfortunately for City, he cancelled his earlier effort out and Peacock grabbed Newcastle United's winner.
City were in the play-offs though and they were drawn against Cambridge. Cambridge were brushed aside 6-1 on aggregate and City were through to the Play-off final against Blackburn Rovers. It was a tight final but Blackburn nicked it with former City player Mike Newell netting a penalty to take Rovers into the Premiership.
City started the 92-93 season on a high following their fine form the season before they never dropped out of the top 10 all season and were almost constantly in the play-off positions. They faced Newcastle United on the last day of the season again, but things were different. Newcastle weren't fighting for their lives this season, they had decimated all the competition and were already declared Division One champions. (I think we drew 1-1 against them though!) City didn't need a win either, they were destined for the Play-offs whatever the outcome, needless to say that City got pummelled by Newcastle 7-1 at St.James' Park.
The Play-offs saw City overcome third placed Portsmouth in a tight contest over two legs (City eventually winning 3-2 on aggregate) and then going back to Wembley for the second season on the trot. City put up a good fight against Swindon town with both goalies being called into action many times, but mostly for picking the ball out of the back of the net. Swindon eventually got the better of City as they ran out 4-3 winners. Could it be third time lucky?
1993-94 was the season where City gained promotion and, as was the case the season before, City were never really out of the Play-off positions, finally finishing fourth. Their first opponents in the Play-offs were Tranmere Rovers and after a hard fought 0-0 at Prenton Park, City took their home advantage and made it count with a 2-1 win at a packed out Filbert Street. The Foxes were at Wembley for the third season running and they were up against East Midlands rivals Derby County. Steve Walsh was the City hero, netting City's two goals in a 2-1 victory.
City were in the Premier League for the first time, and with it came great financial reward as major financial backers such as Sky TV increased prize money to a whole new level. City used this money to smash their transfer record and sign Mark Draper for £1.25 million from Notts County. However, they were unable to bring any other "big" names to Filbert Street other than Nicky Mohan of Middlesbrough.
The season didn't start well for City and they didn't win a game until Tottenham Hotspur came to visit Filbert Street on September 17th 1994. City beat "The Mighty Spur's" 3-1, with Julian Joachim (twice) and with David Lowe getting on the score sheet. City ended the season in 21st place (one off the bottom) managing only 6 wins all season, also losing Brian Little, who resigned from manager at City before becoming Aston Villa manager, leaving Mark McGhee to piece together a team lacking confidence and morale.
It was a harsh reality check but it did the trick for City as they bounced right back into the top flight (through the play-offs yet again) by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 after extra time. That season wasn't trouble free though. Mark McGhee left City high and dry after little more than a year and the City board were again on the look out for another manager. They quickly went back to the previous years shortlist. Martin O'Neill resigned from his post at Norwich City and Martin George bagged his man shortly afterwards. It was to be one of the best moves the City board had ever made.
Back in the Premiership, in August 1996. City were joined by Sunderland and Derby as the new boys in the Premiership, but City had been there before, they had that extra bit of experience that set them aside from the other two hopefuls. The Foxes first full season under O'Neill was to be one of their most successful. While many wrote Leicester off at the beginning of the season, O'Neill told the players to stick to their game plan and it paid off. City took on top Premiership teams week in, week out, and took the game to them. The points were building up for O'Neill's men and two wins over Brian Little's Aston Villa only increased their confidence and secured a ninth place finish.
It wasn't only the Premiership where City were excelling either. Martin O'Neill set his eyes on silverware, and he took the Foxes to Wembley again, but this time it was the League Cup final (then the Coca-Cola Cup). City faced Premiership rivals Middlesbrough at Wembley. The game finished 1-1 after extra time, Emile Heskey scoring a late equaliser with 117 minutes on the clock, and a replay was needed, at Hillsborough, 10 days later. Yet again it was a draw after 90 minutes (0-0), but Steve Claridge headed the winning goal on 100 minutes, the stadium was rocking. City defended deep for the last nerve racking 20 minutes, then the final whistle blew. City were in Europe! For the first time in 36 years.
The 1997-98 season didn't quite live up to the expectations of the City faithful. The Foxes finished 10th in the league but it could have been at least two places higher as they lost 4-3 to West Ham at Upton Park. Then they were knocked out of all their cup competitions (FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup) early on. It was a tough draw for City in the UEFA Cup as they crashed to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. The FA cup draw to Crystal Palace was always going to be tough, they eventually lost 3-0 at Selhurst Park, but the League Cup defeat was embarrassing. The defending Champions in that competition were comfortably beaten, 3-1, at the hands of Grimsby Town.
The 1998-99 season saw City establish themselves further as a mid-table obscurity in the Premiership, but Martin O'Neill wanted more, Martin O'Neill wanted City in europe again. After last years embarrassing Coca-Cola Cup display at Grimsby, it was time for City to regain the silverware in the newly named Worthington Cup. They got to the Final where they came up against Tottenham, who they had beaten in the league already that season. It was a typically tight Cup Final display from both teams, but Spurs edged out City, with Allan Nielsen grabbing the only goal of the game.
The 1999-2000 season was another step up in the increasingly difficult Premiership. Competition for places was really hotting up, City finished 8th, their highest Premiership finish. They managed the 5th round in the FA Cup losing out to a strong Chelsea side, and they got to the final of the Worthington Cup for the second year running. This time they faced First Division Tranmere Rovers. Rovers were tough opposition for a tired City team, but City shook off the First Division outfit to record a 2-1 victory, Matt Elliott bagging the two City goals. Martin O'Neill had taken City to the UEFA Cup for the second time during his City career.
However, O'Neill's reign as City manager ended in the summer before the 2000-2001 season, as he took the vacant Celtic job, once again leaving City managerless, but they were a much more stable team than that he picked up 5 years earlier. Former Blues player and boss, as well as England Under 21 coach, Peter Taylor, was given the task of sustaining what O'Neill had built at Filbert Street, and things started to go his way when City found themselves topping the table on October 1st 2000. It was the first time City had reached the top of the English game since 1963, they were there for 13 days as there was a week off for International fixtures, but they came back to earth with a bump. Manchester United thumped them 3-0 at Filbert Street but Taylor's side hung on in the top four until the new year.
City couldn't recreate their early season form as the O'Neill magic slowly disappeared and after stalling in all cup competitions, losing to Red Star in the UEFA Cup, Crystal in the Worthington Cup, and losing out to Wycombe Wanderers in the FA Cup Quarter-Finals. As City lost eight games in a row in the league and finished the season in 13th position. The next season was to be one of the most forgettable seasons in City's recent history.
The season started poorly and never really showed any sign of improvement. Peter Taylor was shown the Filbert Street door only eight games. However, those eight games produced only five points with one win (over Derby) and two draws against a poor Ipswich Town and an unstable Charlton Athletic. Garry Parker took over the first team for one game and watched as they were demolished 6-0 by Leeds at Filbert Street. A permanent replacement was needed, quickly. Dave 'Harry' Bassett landed the job, and brought Micky Adams with him as his assistant coach. Things didn't get much better though, and during Bassett's 26 league games in charge, City picked up just 17 points (half of those points came within his first seven games in charge).
With four games remaining until the end of the season, and City already relegated, Bassett stepped down as manager of City and took up the post of Director of Football, with Micky Adams taking charge of the Foxes. Adams immediately changed the starting team and set them out for his first game in charge of a Premiership club, against Everton. Brian Deane scored twice in 27 minutes to put City two goals up at half-time, but City let a winning start for Adams slip in the second half as substitute Nick Chadwick and veteran Duncan Ferguson robbed City of a deserved win. Adams managed to spur City on to getting six points in their last four games, but couldn't pull the club off the foot of the table. His next task, to take City back into the Premiership.
Putting a disappointing season behind the team, Leicester moved into the new 32,500-seat Walkers Stadium at the start of the 2002-03 season. Walkers, the Leicestershire based crisp manufacturers, acquired the naming rights for a ten year period.
In October 2002, the club went into administration with debts of £30 million. Some of the reasons were the loss of TV money, (ITV Digital, itself in administration, had promised money to First Division clubs for TV rights), the large wage bill, lower than expected fees for players transferred to other clubs and the £37 million cost of the new stadium. Adams was banned from the transfer market for most of the season, until the club was rescued by a takeover by a consortium led by Gary Lineker. Adams guided Leicester to runners-up spot in Division One and automatic promotion back to the Premiership with more than 90 points.
Leicester only lasted one season in the top flight and were relegated back to the newly labelled Championship, previously known as Division One. In reaction to Leicester's restructuring of their debts, the Football League changed their rules and now penalises teams going into administration with a ten point penalty.
Sadly, with a season in Division One looming it was unlikely that people would want to see the glamour fixtures of Rotherham and Walsall compared to the last seasons Arsenal and Manchester United fixtures. Lack of ticket revenue linked with the high cost of designing such a venue put City into dire straits, and Adams' hands were tied over buying any new players to help his thin squad through a long First Division season. That didn't stop the remaining Leicester City players giving it all they had to get back into the Premiership, and the season started excellently with City claiming 54 points in just 26 games.
However, behind the scenes things weren't so good. City were in financial turmoil and the club was put into administration. Adams was told he'd have to sell players to make up the money that the club owed. Out went Matt Piper (£3million to Sunderland), Dennis Wise (Free to Millwall), and Damien Delaney (£50,000 to Hull City). While this only made just over £3million pounds in transfer revenue, more was saved on the wages that these players earned.
City weren't in the clear though. More money was needed, and a group of consortiums came forward to offer their proposals for Leicester City Football Club. The media involved themselves with everything that was happening at the club, and the newly formed Foxes Trust were very influential in the final decision. In the end, the consortium headed by Leicester's own golden boy, Gary Lineker, won and they were given the job of raising the money in time to bring City out of Administration, which they did.
City finished the season in second place behind Portsmouth and automatically qualified for the Premiership. Micky Adams' first season in charge of a Premiership club was a difficult one with problems on and off the field. Despite bringing in a practically new squad for what is estimated to be under £1 million, City struggled to adapt to the pace of the Premiership and found themselves facing an uphill struggle from day one. Perhaps 'the' highlight of the season came in City's 4-0 mauling of fellow strugglers Leeds United on the 15th September. It was City's first win of the season and it was the setting for one of the best goals ever scored by a Leicester City player. Lilian Nalis made his mark with his first goal for the Blues, a stunning 25-yard volley with his left foot - his wrong foot! However, this wasn't to be a turning point in a poor season as they continuously dropped points and slid down to the foot of the table, but worse was to come.
Nine players found themselves at the centre of a "sex scandal" with three accused of rape. The club was struggling on and off the pitch. The three players at the centre of the allegations - Paul Dickov, Keith Gillespie and Frank Sinclair - were later found not guilty but only after they had spent over a week in a spanish jail. This didn't help the team on the pitch at all, City struggled to keep in touch with the teams directly above them and were already relegated by the last day of the season.
Micky Adams now had a job on his hands to rebuild a team for the new Coca-Cola Championship season. With the dawn of a new season also came the release of 13 players but this mass exodus was balanced with the addition of some notable footballers including, Leicester-born Dion Dublin, Danny Tiatto (Man City), Joey Gudjonsson (Real Betis), David Connolly (West Ham) and Martin Keown (Arsenal).
Micky Adams resigned as the Foxes boss in October 2004, after collecting 16 points from the first 12 Championship fixtures. As a temporary measure Dave Bassett was brought in as caretaker manager with Howard Wilkinson to assist him. Craig Levein was then brought to the Walkers from Scottish club Hearts as a permanent replacement for Micky Adams.
This would prove to be an unsuccessful period and after 15 months in charge and flirting with relegation Levein was sacked. Assistant manager Rob Kelly, took over as caretaker manager, and after winning three out of four games was appointed to see out the rest of the season. Kelly steered Leicester to safety and in April 2006 was given the manager's job on a permanent basis.
In October 2006 ex-Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandrić was quoted as saying he was interested in buying the club, reportedly at a price of around £6 million with the current playing squad valued at roughly £4.2 million. The takeover was formally announced on February 13, 2007.
On 11 April 2007, Robert Kelly was sacked as manager and Nigel Worthington appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Worthington saved the club from relegation, but was not offered the job on a permanent basis, and was released before moving on to the Northern Ireland managerial position. On May 25, 2007 the club announced former MK Dons manager Martin Allen as their new manager with a 3 year contract. Allen's relationship with Mandarić became tense and after only 4 games Allen left by mutual consent on 29 August 2007.
On 13 September 2007, Mandaric announced Gary Megson as the new manager of the club, citing Megson's "wealth of experience" as a deciding factor in the appointment. Former Leicester City favourite Gerry Taggart was appointed as Megson's first team coach. However, Megson left on 24 October 2007 after only six weeks in charge following an approach made for his services by Bolton Wanderers. Milan Mandaric placed Frank Burrows and Gerry Taggart in the shared position as caretaker managers until a professional manager was appointed. On 31 October the club put on a brave performance against Chelsea in the Carling Cup, but still lost 4-3 at Stamford Bridge.
On 22 November, Ian Holloway was appointed manager. Holloway made history when he became the first Leicester manager in over 50 years to win his first league game in charge, beating Bristol City 2-0. Despite this, Leicester were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2007-08 season, thus marking the 2008-09 season as Leicester's first season outside the top two tiers of English football, their lowest ever finish. Their fall from grace would also see Holloway leave by mutual consent after less than a season at the club, being replaced by Nigel Pearson, who saved Southampton from relegation that same season.
(Thanks to all the usual suspects for their help with this article)