davieG

Tom Wagner makes bold Birmingham City prediction involving Leicester City and Southampton By Adam Tiffen Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner has predicted that his side will have as good a chance at winning promotion to the Premier League next season as newly relegated Leicester City or Southampton will. There are two things that Wagner really isn't short of: ambition and money. The American businessman has used these two things in League One to completely smash the competition, reset the trajectory of the club and they're on track to become the highest points-scoring side in English footballing history. They have put together a squad for Chris Davies that is miles better than any other third-tier side, and this has been largely down to the revenue that the club have been able to generate. Wagner loves to talk money and revenue and stress its importance to him. A big income perfectly correlates with success in football in his mind - a theory that is pretty hard to argue with - and his projections for the season to come suggest that more history is in the making for Blues. Tom Wagner's Birmingham City, Premier League promotion prediction The club already has huge fund-generating deals with brands like Nike, Delta Air Lines and Undefeated. The behind-the-scenes Amazon Prime documentary on the club's 2024/25 campaign has also been a big financial help for Birmingham this season. With the way that their income is going, the American believes that, next season, City will bring in as much money as the Premier League's relegated clubs, Leicester and Southampton, who are set to receive large, eight-figure payments from their soon-to-be former division on the way down. According to Wagner, this will give Birmingham a level playing field to compete with them for promotion. "Parachute payment clubs have a roughly one-in-four chance of getting promoted," Wagner explained to The Times. "Non-parachute clubs have a one in 16 chance. So, OK, if we can achieve parachute-level revenues, we’re four times more likely to get promoted. "If our revenue progresses as we expect into next season, which is basically a certainty, we will be the highest revenue-generating club in the Championship ever not receiving parachute payments — and we will be on a par with those receiving parachute payments. Tom Wagner, Birmingham City "If we then progress one year further, and we’re fortunate enough to end up in the Premier League, we’ll be a mid-table club or better in total revenue, first year in. "When you get inside the top eight, those clubs are real financial powerhouses. But between nine and 12, there’s space to move into that sphere and compete with the clubs that are six, seven, eight in total revenue. I think we can get there very quickly. A double promotion would be a shocking accomplishment, even for Birmingham's high standards Ipswich's remarkable campaign last time out in which they won automatic promotion to the Premier League, the season after doing so from League One, was widely and rightfully heralded as one of the great footballing achievements in recent times. The Tractor Boys have been well-backed by their own American owners, no doubt about it. Birmingham, though, are an acceptably bigger fish when it comes to splashing, and earning, cash. There's a reason why this feat of climbing from the third rung of the ladder all the way up to the top in the quickest fashion possible has been done so few times in the game's history, and while Davies' team knows a thing or two already about resetting records, their potentially league-best budget in the Championship doesn't give them any divine right to be up near the top this time next year. If they do manage to replicate the success that Kieran McKenna had last season, it shouldn't be solely put down to Knighthead's hefty pockets. Birmingham's players and staff should, and would, receive all the praise in the world.

For Vardy

EL Capitulate

29 - Leicester have conceded first in 29 of their 34 Premier League games this season - the most ever by a side in a single 38-game campaign in the competition. Uphill. [image or embed] — OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) 26 April 2025 at 15:41 https://www.thefosseway.net/matchday/leicester-city-match-report-wolves-away-2025

Dived

Is that it, a lot of arm waving and hiding behind each other. Handbags. But still not a good sight.

Why do you think going down will lose the happy clappers, whoever they are. I'm pretty sure they there when we last went down to the third tier.

......and still no Woyo Coulibaly, WTF did we sign him. Was it to improve this year or ready for next?

Should be Shag the future, I'm off.

Who is this Leicester City Football Club 6m · Locked in #WOLLEI I know these

Yeah I often do about the players.

Why play Reid then?

So much for preparing for next season, surely he's been told he's out. Faes, Buonanotte, Soumare and only Monga on the bench.

We should make a mural of Vardy out of all the redundant ST cards.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ruud-van-nistelrooy-gives-update-10134647 Ruud van Nistelrooy gives update on Harry Winks after Leicester City midfielder's absence Harry Winks did not attend Leicester City's relegation fixture against Liverpool at the King Power Stadium, despite a club policy for squad members to be present at home games Sport ByJordan Blackwell 08:30, 26 APR 2025 Harry Winks’ absence from the King Power Stadium last weekend “has been dealt with” and every Leicester City player will be present at the final two home games, Ruud van Nistelrooy said. Pictures and videos posted to Instagram showed Winks stayed away from City’s home ground last Sunday, when the club’s 1-0 defeat to Liverpool confirmed their relegation. Winks has been out of favour under van Nistelrooy amid an alleged dispute over his commuting time, but the manager said after the Liverpool loss that he expected players to attend home fixtures even when they were not in the matchday squad. This week, the matter has been dealt with, van Nistelrooy has said, but he did not specify if Winks had been fined or received any other disciplinary punishment. "It was clear how the weekend went,” van Nistelrooy said when asked about Winks’ absence. “It's been dealt with internally, and that's what I can say about it. “It's not only about Harry. It's been dealt with and from there on we can move forward towards the last two home games, where everybody will be there to support Jamie (Vardy). “It's been cleared internally and the two home games will all be in focus on supporting Jamie. “It's a normal policy within football clubs and also here.” City’s final two home matches are against the two sides they came up with and are set to go down with. They face Southampton on Saturday, May 3, and Ipswich on Sunday, May 18. The clash with Ipswich will be Vardy’s final game at the King Power Stadium and will also be his 500th appearance for the club, provided he plays the next three games against Wolves, Southampton and Nottingham Forest. Winks, meanwhile, continues to train but is not expected to be in contention for selection while van Nistelrooy is in charge, despite the manager previously saying the door is open for change. The former Tottenham midfielder has just over one year remaining on his City deal.

https://www.molineux.news/news/steve-bull-has-just-urged-wolves-to-do-something-they-havent-all-season-against-leicester-city/ Steve Bull wants Wolves to thrash Leicester City In a week where Jamie Vardy announced he will be leaving Leicester at the end of the campaign, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s men will be extra fuelled for three points, despite seeing their relegation confirmed against Liverpool. The Foxes are playing for their pride, something they haven’t done all season, and Vardy will be desperate to score two more to reach the 200 goal mark for the club. Ahead of the showdown at Molineux, Bull wants Wolves to do something they haven’t managed all season, and that is to put five or six goals past an opponent. The most they’ve scored in a game is four – the 4-1 victory over Fulham in November and the 4-2 win over Tottenham this month. “If it was me, I’d name the strongest possible team and if we can get an early goal, this Leicester side will fold,” Bull wrote in his column for the E&S. “I’d love to see us score four, five or even six! But they won’t lie down and let us win the game, Ruud van Nistelrooy and his players have their own futures to fight for and we have to take the game to them. “It’s about us – we’re at home and we have to give our fans something to cheer about. Plenty of Wolves players don’t know their fate next season, so they also have a lot to play for before the end of the season.”

Anything that makes the stadium more like the home of LCFC rather than KPFC. A few token banners many with dates on mean nothing to so many fans without looking it up. As someone said, no disrespect move the Vichai statue to the memorial garden where it really belongs that leaves space for some LCFC 'history' be it a statue of Vardy etc.

https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/leicester-city-russell-martin-critics-given-championship-title-guarantee/ "I massively like him" - Southampton FC view given as Leicester City eye Russell Martin Chris Gallagher This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more... Leicester City have been told they will be ‘lucky’ to have Russell Martin after the former Southampton chief was linked with the Foxes. Whilst Ruud van Nistelrooy remains in charge at the King Power Stadium, there are major doubts about his future after their relegation to the Championship was confirmed last weekend. The Dutchman has failed to make a positive impact at Leicester after succeeding Steve Cooper, and it has been claimed that Russell Martin is among the candidates to replace van Nistelrooy. Leicester City reaction to Russell Martin rumours has been mixed The 39-year-old has been out of work since he was sacked by Southampton earlier this season, but it’s fair to say the reaction to his potential appointment was mixed among the Leicester fan base. Martin has a clear style of play which focuses on keeping possession, but his refusal to adapt has been questioned by many over the past few years. Yet, when asked by FLW if the scepticism towards the ex-Swansea boss is fair, FLW's Southampton fan pundit Martin Sanders was adamant that it would be a fantastic appointment by Leicester, who he tipped to win the league if it happened. “I massively like him, and I think he will go on to become a good manager. I think he will have learnt from his time at Southampton, and I think whoever gets him will be very lucky. “He is a great man-manager, he is young, and he was brilliant on MNF with Jamie Carragher and Dave Jones, he was outstanding. “It would be a great appointment for Leicester, and the fact their fans are turning their nose up at him - well I wouldn’t be. I think if he goes you could guarantee the title for them next season. “I think he learnt a lot from that time at Southampton and will come back as a much better manager. In life, you go through difficult spells, where you leave a job, and you reflect on what went on and think ‘I won’t do that again’, and I think football is the same. You come out of it, you reflect, like Martin said he did, and he will be a better manager for it. “He spoke about how he felt ill after he was sacked at Southampton, and how he spent a lot of time thinking, studying their work, and what they could be better at. If Leicester got him, I think they’d be very, very lucky.” Leicester City need to make some big calls ahead of Championship return Martin is a divisive figure, and many wouldn’t share the optimism that he would bring the league title to the King Power Stadium next season. Nevertheless, he has a clear way of playing that would be comparable to Enzo Maresca, and he has proven himself at this level, so there are obvious benefits to his appointment. But, first things first, Leicester still have van Nistelrooy in charge, and the hierarchy need to make a decision on his future over the next few weeks. If a change is made, it’s then about making a swift appointment, and whoever does take charge will have a big job on their hands. Most expect the relegated clubs to bounce back straight away, but there is a real disconnect between the club and the fans right now that needs to be repaired, and the club could face further PSR issues. So, it’s a big challenge for whoever is leading Leicester, and it will be intriguing to see how it all plays out.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/eighteen-mistakes-made-leicester-city-10134242 Eighteen mistakes made by Leicester City that overshadow easy relegation excuse A closer look at the reasons that led to Leicester City's fall into the Championship, eliminating the excuse that their fate was decided by the gulf between top two divisions ByJordan Blackwell 05:00, 26 APR 2025 Asked to name a reason why Leicester City had been relegated in the immediate aftermath of their downfall, Ruud van Nistelrooy pointed to the gulf between the established Premier League sides and those coming up from the Championship. When he was then asked to name a reason specific to his side, he repeated the same answer. Now, there is no denying that facing 17 sides who are all in their third consecutive seasons in the Premier League, and therefore in their third consecutive season of receiving Premier League money, makes for a difficult task for clubs who have been promoted. In the Premier League, success is so often determined by money. There is no doubt it is a factor. However, to react as if it is the sole factor in City’s demise is not only wilfully obtuse – they were only a promoted club because they got themselves relegated in the first place – but also unhelpful. City need to recognise where they have gone wrong so that they can learn from their mistakes. Because every side makes them. Even those who are currently battling for Champions League places will have made errors. Often, for those sides right at the bottom, it’s about a compendium of mistakes, rather than a single one. And so, we have put together 18 reasons for City’s fall into the Championship, one for each of the points they had earned at the point at which their relegation was confirmed. Some of City’s defeats will have been decided on moments of madness or poor individual displays. But it’s not the point to highlight those, more the issues that spanned the full season, or mistakes that had knock-on effects for the whole campaign. Plus, it should be recognised that many of these mistakes are analysed in hindsight. They were perhaps decisions taken with the best intentions but ones have revealed themselves to be poorly-judged. They are mistakes all the same, and it’s mistakes that have cost City. It's what the likes of chairman Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha, director of football Jon Rudkin, chief executive Susan Whelan and those in charge need to learn from. Having to sell Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall The first issue arrived way back at the end of last June. It’s not the act of selling Dewsbury-Hall that was the problem, but more what it represented. To cope with financial mismanagement across the previous, they were forced to sell their best player and a fan favourite two months after they were promoted. To avoid punishment over the Profit and Sustainability Rules, selling Dewsbury-Hall made sense. But City had put themselves in the predicament where they had to do it, weakening their squad for a tougher division. An unsatisfactory pre-season There was a cancelled trip to the States, a hastily-organised alternative plan, an abandoned fixture, key signings after the season had begun, and a final friendly in which the club’s own 12-minutes highlights package only featured chances for the opposition. Pre-season could have gone much more smoothly. Appointing Steve Cooper Bringing in a more pragmatic manager to take the parts of Enzo Maresca’s gameplan that worked well but then to make tweaks to create a City side that was better-equipped for the rigours of the Premier League seemed, and still seems, like a strong plan on Cooper’s part. But in reality, it didn’t work. It emerged that the players didn’t connect with Cooper, and despite the Welshman’s best efforts, the fans didn’t either. Despite sitting 16th when Cooper was sacked, City’s performances did not suggest they were going to survive, their points tally at that point built on unsustainable rates of finishing, world-class goalkeeping, and a couple of fortunate refereeing decisions. Signing experienced heads Cooper wanted more experience, players who knew the Premier League and would not have wilted over a few bad results. In came Jordan Ayew (the oldest player signed for a fee by any Premier League club last summer) and Bobby De Cordova-Reid. Ben Davies would have arrived from Tottenham too had Cooper got his wish. But really, City already had enough Premier League experience in their ranks. What they needed was quality and/or energy. Ayew and De Cordova-Reid delivered in moments, and it could be argued Ayew’s last-minute equaliser was only taken with such composure because of his experience, but they have not provided enough in their all-around performances for it to be suggested they were good signings. Failing to prioritise high-quality centre-backs Jannik Vestergaard was signed to a three-year deal despite never having won a Premier League game for City in which he’d started, while Caleb Okoli was brought in for a £13m fee that left Atalanta fans gratefully surprised. Wout Faes had still had rickety moments in the Championship while Conor Coady had hardly played. Those were the centre-backs City had to choose from and it didn’t feel like any possible combination made the team an effective defensive unit. Five of the six possible pairings have been trialled, with the longest run any duo had standing at seven matches, for Faes and Okoli together under Cooper and then Vestergaard and Coady together under van Nistelrooy. A strong defence is built on unity, understanding and consistency. City’s centre-backs haven’t shown those qualities enough, and it needed to be an area for more significant spending in the summer. Conceding from the right side Especially early in the season, it felt like a significant percentage of the goals City conceded came from their right side. The focus was on James Justin, but too often he either lacked support ahead of him or inside him, with the full-back and Faes never appearing to be on the same wavelength. It gifted the opposition an easy route to goal, with very little done to try to stop sides exploiting such a flaw. It has become less of an issue as the season has gone on, but perhaps because City have started conceding from everywhere. Conceding every game (and often first) Even Derby, in their record-setting 11-point campaign of 2007-08, kept three clean sheets. City have one so far. City won’t end the campaign with the Premier League’s worst-ever defensive record, but their consistency in conceding almost every single week has put them on the back foot. They have given themselves hills to climb too. They have conceded the first goal 28 times in 33 matches, six more occasions than the next worst side. Bringing in Odsonne Edouard without a break clause City would have been criticised had they not signed a striker, but what they ended up doing was worse. They panicked and brought in Edouard for a considerable loan fee, with neither Cooper nor van Nistelrooy seeing fit to use him, even as a substitute. Plus, there was no break clause in his loan contract, so City could not send him back to Crystal Palace without paying. Concerned about PSR, they chose instead to keep him, blocking them from bringing in another Premier League loanee in January. It was a deal that has had no positive impact and harmed the club in more ways than one. New signings simply not improving the team This may be the big one. When there is such a gulf in quality between the Championship and the Premier League, transfers have to make an impact. Take Oliver Skipp for example. It could be debated that City didn’t need a deep-lying midfielder last summer. It could be argued that the £20m fee was a case of overspending. But those criticisms would have been forgotten had he improved the starting line-up. However, Skipp has been unable to do that. City signed nine players last summer. In their last six games, they’ve had a maximum of two in their starting line-up. Sometimes it’s just been Bilal El Khannouss. Most of the team has been the one that was relegated two years ago and so in some ways it's no surprise they've struggled. ‘Enzo, I miss u’ The players do not come out of this guilt-free. In November, images emerged of their Christmas party in Copenhagen, during which a sign saying ‘Enzo, I miss u’ was held aloft. It’s not that the squad are not allowed to have fun, but the incident offered evidence that they were not moving on from Maresca’s departure, explaining their reluctance to get behind Cooper’s ideas. Appointment of Ruud van Nistelrooy Van Nistelrooy’s future remains up in the air, but if his tenure was to end tomorrow, it would go down as a failure. Perhaps he would have been better with a full pre-season. Instead, he was brought in midway through as a firefighter, and he has not seemed cut out for that job, such is his lack of experience of relegation battles. The few flashes of promise have been marred by some awful displays, the worst performances of the season coming on his watch. Failing to deliver on January assurances When van Nistelrooy arrived, he said he was assured of new signings in January. In the end, he got one £3m right-back who has started one game. It’s not the first time that promised January spending has not been delivered at City, and it can’t have helped van Nistelrooy’s motivation. City had to be wary of PSR, but again, that’s their own fault in the first place. Wolves, meanwhile, spent over £40m and pulled away from the relegation battle. Reliance on Jamie Vardy In some cases, Vardy has defied expectations again, scoring more than double the amount he did during the last relegation. But the goals and chances have dried up over the past few months, and perhaps it’s because he’s played too often as a 38-year-old. Last season, he was managed well, playing 90 minutes just once and conserving energy for the climax to the campaign. This season, he’s played 18 lots of 90 minutes. Failing to create chances (and take them) Failing to score in nine straight home matches is incredibly poor. Such have been their woes in front of goal, City got themselves into a cycle where they were losing confidence in the final third and unable to take the chances they did create. That was part of the problem too, though. They simply haven’t created enough at the top of the pitch to even get lucky goals, taking the fewest shots in the division. A team that fashions the fewest chances, and then underperforms on finishing as they have since van Nistelrooy took charge, is not going to score often. Fostering a disconnect between the club and supporters The atmosphere at the King Power Stadium has not been as loud and as raucous as it could have been. It’s an unfortunate reference, but Nottingham Forest showed what a difference a great home atmosphere can have when they stayed up two years ago. But it didn’t help that City frustrated their fans before the season had even begun with the debacle over the £25 physical season-ticket charge, and further issues followed, with a lack of communication from the top often cited. Fans hold up a banner in protest of the Leicester City hierarchy during the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the King Power Stadium (Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) Ending the club’s academy inclusion streak This is not a significant issue, but it is underwhelming. For 288 games in a row, nearly six years, City had at least one academy player in their matchday squad. That run ended under Cooper in October. It may seem like a small matter, but for supporters, it was a big deal and only made them feel less connected with the club. In recent weeks, van Nistelrooy has talked up homegrown players and their care for the club, and how he wants to use that going forward. Maybe the likes of Kasey McAteer and Luke Thomas should have played more often. Too often failing to use the best players Again, given the talk around the gap in quality between the top two divisions, it’s a wonder why both managers simply didn’t put their best players on the pitch more often. Ricardo Pereira didn’t get a look-in under Cooper, while Abdul Fatawu missed a handful of games too. When El Khannouss and Facundo Buonanotte have played together, City have looked at their most threatening, but van Nistelrooy has not taken a shine to the Argentinian and so matches with that twin threat have been few and far between. Tendency to give up ‘Foxes Never Quit’? No, they sometimes do. Especially under van Nistelrooy there have been too many games where City have conceded early and given up on trying to get a result. It drained belief from the squad and the fanbase and made every match more tougher than the last. Can City say they’ve fought hard enough? It doesn’t feel like they can.

A lot of Knee injuries 8/13?

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/free-classic-car-event-set-10116895 Free classic car event set for Leicestershire town return this summer Enthusiasts are invited to showcase their vehicles ByDylan HaywardReporter 15:11, 20 APR 2025 Attendees will be able to share experiences with other car enthusiasts Attendees will be able to share experiences with other car enthusiasts (Image: Supplied) Classic car enthusiasts are being invited to a series of free events in a Leicestershire town centre this summer. The Classic Vehicle Meets will take place on Thursday evenings, with car lovers able to showcase their prized vehicles in Market Place, Hinckley. The events will run from 5pm to 8pm on three dates throughout the summer months. Attendees will be able to view a range of vehicles including vintage models and modern classics during the evening gatherings. The events will be held on Thursday, June 19, Thursday, July 17, and Thursday, August 21. Hinckley BID, which is organising the meets, says all are welcome to attend. Attendees will be able to view a range of vehicles including vintage models and modern classics Attendees will be able to view a range of vehicles including vintage models and modern classics (Image: Supplied) Organisers say the events aim to celebrate automotive history and provide a space for enthusiasts to share stories and experiences. A spokesperson for Hinckley BID said: "Whether you're a classic car owner or simply a fan, these events are the perfect opportunity to appreciate automotive history and culture. Each meet promises an evening filled with stunning vehicles, camaraderie, and the chance to share stories and experiences with other car enthusiasts." Admission to the Classic Vehicle Meets is free for all attendees. Those wanting to showcase their vehicles can simply turn up on the evenings.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/free-highcross-event-celebrate-leicesters-10130248?int_source=nba Free Highcross event to celebrate Leicester's Roman heritage It's being billed as an 'epic time-travel adventure' What's On BySamuel KalantzisReporter 16:07, 24 APR 2025 A free event hosted by the Highcross shopping centre is celebrating the city's Roman heritage. The competition forms part of the Return of the Romans showcase. The free event sees visitors take part in a Roman trail, after they pick up a map from the customer service desk, available until this Sunday, April 27. From those participating, a lucky winner will receive two free cinema tickets and some gifts from John Lewis. The return of the Romans event also includes a special showing of the movie Gladiator in Showcase Cinema De Lux, on Saturday, April 26. A Highcross spokesperson said: "Get ready for an epic time-travel adventure! The Romans are marching in, and it's going to be legendary! Join us to uncover the secrets of an ancient world right beneath your feet." The Old Town Festival takes place later this month, celebrating St George and Leicester's history Adding to the Roman theme, the Old Town festival is also part of the return of the Romans event, which is taking place in Jubilee Square and the Old Town area of city centre. The festivities will take place between Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. For those partaking in the roman trail with a chance to win some prizes, the winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 29. More information can be found on the Highcross' website.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/opening-date-set-embattled-leicester-10132180 Opening date set for embattled Leicester museum after series of delays The road to reopening has been a bumpy one, but at last the wait is almost over What's On ByHannah RichardsonLocal Democracy Reporter 11:28, 25 APR 2025 The long-awaited grand re-opening of Leicester’s Jewry Wall Museum has been announced after a series of delays. The museum closed to the public in 2017 after the former Vaughan College pulled out of the site, allowing new owners Leicester City Council to embark on a plan to turn the 1960s listed building into a new attraction. It was designed to not only show off Leicester’s history, but also introduce Roman history to all ages, with the wall believed to be the largest piece of surviving non-military Roman history in the country. However, the road to reopening the museum has been a bumpy and delayed one. The first setback came in 2019 after the local authority discovered the building would require more work to suitably revamp it than was initially planned with the original £7 million price tag shooting up to more than £11 million. The project was then forced to halt because of Covid-19, with further delays hitting the revamp when two contractors went bust. The café will be open to everyone, regardless of whether they have bought tickets for the museum At last, however, the wait is nearly over, with Leicester City Council saying the new Jewry Wall Museum will welcome its first visitors on Saturday, July 26. More than 100 Roman artefacts found in Leicester and the wider county will be on display. Visitors will be welcomed by an immersive film taking them on a journey through the excavated areas of Roman Leicester. Interactive displays, games and projections will allow visitors to explore the 2nd century site, transporting them back in time to experience everyday life in Leicester as it was around 2,000 years ago, Leicester City Council has said. Ticket prices will start at £6.25 for children, with the full adult admission set at £12.50. Concession and family tickets will also be available, with the full price list available below. The museum will also boast a café, open to the public without the need to buy a ticket, where people can look out on the remains of the Roman bath house. A 'botched' project The announcement of the opening date comes as the city council faces backlash from opposition councillors over its decision to make cuts to a number of other historic sites in Leicester. Opposition groups are demanding the council suspend plans to shake-up its museums services, a move which will see Belgrave Hall close to the public, and opening hours cut at Abbey Pumping Station and the Newarke Houses Museum. They are also calling on the authority to cancel a proposed shake-up library services, with the authority considering shutting two buildings, while a further 11 could be transferred to community groups which would run them. Reductions in staff and opening hours are also on the cards for some libraries, with the cash-strapped council currently consulting on the proposals which it says would save £2.1 million a year. The authority says it needs to save £23 million this year to allow it to balance its books – something it is legally bound to do. A special meeting of the council is to be held next week to debate these matters at the request of opposition groups. They have branded the Jewry Wall redevelopment a “botched” project which has ultimately cost the council £16 million. City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “It’s fair to say that this project has faced more than its fair share of challenges, with a global pandemic and not one but two key contractors going out of business during the construction phase, so I’m delighted that we can now – finally – look forward to the opening of this brilliant new attraction for Leicester. Everything that will be on display in the new museum has been discovered right here in Leicester and Leicestershire, from the Blackfriars Mosaic that’s been described as one of the finest mosaics found in Roman Britain, to a beautifully crafted bronze key handle that depicts a man grappling with a lion, uncovered by archaeologists right next to Jewry Wall on Great Central Street in 2016. “The opening of the new museum [...] means that Leicester can finally shout about its Roman roots, offering visitors another must-see attraction in our historic city and making local people even more proud of Leicester’s extraordinary 2,000-year history.” Ticket Prices Adults (16+): £12.50 Concessions: £11.50 Children (5-15): £6.25 Family tickets: £32 (2 x adults + 2 x children) Official carers and children under 5: free of charge Tickets allow visitors to visit the museum as many times as they like within a 12-year period, subject to conditions. A joint ticket is also available for those who wish to visit both the Jewry Wall Museum and the King Richard III Visitor Centre, with adult tickets for both attractions costing £23 and a family ticket priced at £62.

End of June, far to late to be sorting a manager out.

D.Gibson, Stringfellow, I King, McLintock.