A Call for Change: A Footballing Reset at Leicester City Football Club

[walkerleeds]

On 18/01/2025 at 17:20, ProjectReset said:

Leicester City is a club that is losing its soul.

 

A club that once thrived on smart decisions, fearless ambition, and a relentless work ethic now feels directionless. The resilience that defined us has been replaced by indecision. The sharp recruitment and bold leadership that made us special have been dulled by complacency. And the connection between the club and its fans - once our greatest strength - is fading. From the miraculous Premier League triumph of 2016 to our FA Cup glory in 2021, we have seen moments that defied belief. These successes, overseen in part by John Rudkin as Director of Football, deserve recognition and appreciation. But football does not stand still, and neither can Leicester City. Recent years have seen a concerning period of stagnation. Recruitment has faltered, key decisions have been delayed, and the competitive edge that once set us apart has dulled. The result? Relegation, instability, and an uncertain future. In response to relegation, we were told that an inquest would take place - a full review of the failures that led to our downfall. But what came of this? No tangible outcome, no visible consequences for those responsible, and no reassurance for fans that lessons had truly been learned.

 

As Director of Football, John Rudkin is ultimately responsible for the footballing side of Leicester City’s operations. That means player recruitment, squad planning, managerial appointments, and ensuring the football strategy is fit for purpose. Yet under his leadership, we have repeatedly failed to act at the right time, and when decisions have been made, they have lacked clear logic, transparency, and accountability. The result has been an avoidable decline that has left our club struggling to define its footballing identity. Leicester City has never been a club that expects success as a right. What we do expect, however, is a club that fights, competes smartly, and operates with a clear sense of direction. Our greatest moments were built on an identity of resilience - punching above our weight, making smart decisions, and seizing opportunities where others hesitated. That identity is now fading, replaced by reactive decision-making and an absence of clear footballing leadership. Beyond the issues on the pitch, we are witnessing an increasingly fractured fan base. A club once built on unity - where the Srivaddhanaprabha family, the Leicester City staff, and the supporters stood together - now feels more disconnected than ever. A lack of decisive action from those in power, including Rudkin, is widening the gap between the club and its fans, creating a difficult environment for players to thrive and a growing sense of frustration in the stands. The bond that once made Leicester City special is weakening, and unless meaningful change occurs, that connection risks being lost altogether.

For the good of Leicester City Football Club, it is time for a footballing reset. It is time for a leadership change in the footballing department. John Rudkin’s tenure has run its course, and a fresh, progressive vision is now essential to ensure Leicester City once again operates with clarity, ambition, and a footballing identity that reflects who we are. Our club cannot afford to continue down this path: where poor footballing decisions are made too late, without clear reasoning, and without accountability.

 

This is not about disrespecting the past; it is about safeguarding the future. We call on the Leicester City hierarchy to take decisive action, to listen to the concerns of the fans, and to ensure that this great club does not lose sight of what made it special.

Join us. Stand with us. Demand change.

We will be making our voices heard at the King Power Stadium before our next home fixture against Arsenal. Join us at 11:30 AM on Saturday, 15th February 2025, outside the ground. If you believe in a better future for Leicester City, be there. Be loud. Be united. The fight for our club starts now. For Leicester. For the future. For the reset.

 

Where outside the ground? This detail needs to be included because it'll be diluted and thus ineffective.  

[Houdini Logic]

28 minutes ago, Ric Flair said:

I think you're doing a massive disservice to the sentiment of your username if you think our CEO is the one who decides on the position of our Director of Football. 

 

I know we tell our kids that Santa's real but come on man we were once Champions League.

And how do you know that our CEO - the role that's ALWAYS  the highest ranking officer at any company, both inside and outside of football - cannot make a decision about the Director of Football? It's all well and good you talking about Santa mate but you're literally just making stuff up with no evidence. And this is the entire problem, the vast majority of our fans have grabbed onto the DOF without the basic understanding of how a business works.

 

And let's imagine in some crazy world you're right and that the CEO has no power at the club... surely that's even more of a reason to call out the owner and highlight that they need to sort out the structure of the club. The CEO should have ultimate responsibility for the day to day running of the club and that includes making sure the DOF is doing their job properly. If that's not how things are at LCFC then something is truly amiss. But instead of sorting it our owners and CEO are both leaving him in place to allow us to sleepwalk into relegation... AGAIN!

 

 

 

 

[LCFCJohn]

1 minute ago, Houdini Logic said:

And how do you know that our CEO - the role that's ALWAYS  the highest ranking officer at any company, both inside and outside of football - cannot make a decision about the Director of Football? It's all well and good you talking about Santa mate but you're literally just making stuff up with no evidence. And this is the entire problem, the vast majority of our fans have grabbed onto the DOF without the basic understanding of how a business works.

 

And let's imagine in some crazy world you're right and that the CEO has no power at the club... surely that's even more of a reason to call out the owner and highlight that they need to sort out the structure of the club. The CEO should have ultimate responsibility for the day to day running of the club and that includes making sure the DOF is doing their job properly. If that's not how things are at LCFC then something is truly amiss. But instead of sorting it our owners and CEO are both leaving him in place to allow us to sleepwalk into relegation... AGAIN!

 

 

 

 

It does seem to be said a lot that Rudkin has Top’s ear more so than Whelan.

 

Your correct that it should be Owner > CEO > DoF but I’m not sure KP are following that dynamic. It’s seems Rudkin has an unusual amount of power.

[niyaminski]

12 minutes ago, walkerleeds said:

 

Where outside the ground? This detail needs to be included because it'll be diluted and thus ineffective.  

Agreed. I’d guess outside the west stand by the players’ car park, so the media sitting in the west stand could see it.

 

And how could we make it as effective as possible? When Everton got their deduction, they were holding up purple cards around the stadium. Although it was ridiculous, it attracted huge media attention.

 

Where/how could physical banners/scarfs etc be produced? Do we need them? How would we fund them?

 

Feels like a bit more detail/planning needs to go into this than “everyone turn up 10 minutes early than normal as an act to show discontent against the board”. I fully agree with the sentiment though, and am fully onboard.

[Ric Flair]

9 minutes ago, Houdini Logic said:

And how do you know that our CEO - the role that's ALWAYS  the highest ranking officer at any company, both inside and outside of football - cannot make a decision about the Director of Football? It's all well and good you talking about Santa mate but you're literally just making stuff up with no evidence. And this is the entire problem, the vast majority of our fans have grabbed onto the DOF without the basic understanding of how a business works.

 

And let's imagine in some crazy world you're right and that the CEO has no power at the club... surely that's even more of a reason to call out the owner and highlight that they need to sort out the structure of the club. The CEO should have ultimate responsibility for the day to day running of the club and that includes making sure the DOF is doing their job properly. If that's not how things are at LCFC then something is truly amiss. But instead of sorting it our owners and CEO are both leaving him in place to allow us to sleepwalk into relegation... AGAIN!

 

 

 

 

Read the articles from the most respected journalists who have managed to get beneath the surface of the way our football club runs and they've stated that Rudkin is the most trusted employee under Top. 

 

So whilst what SHOULD happen with the way a CEO operates at a functional enterprise, we're led to believe that's absolutely not how Leicester are ran. 

 

The amount of jobs Rudkin holds across the King Power operation speaks volumes too.

 

[ProjectReset]

23 minutes ago, niyaminski said:

Agreed. I’d guess outside the west stand by the players’ car park, so the media sitting in the west stand could see it.

 

And how could we make it as effective as possible? When Everton got their deduction, they were holding up purple cards around the stadium. Although it was ridiculous, it attracted huge media attention.

 

Where/how could physical banners/scarfs etc be produced? Do we need them? How would we fund them?

 

Feels like a bit more detail/planning needs to go into this than “everyone turn up 10 minutes early than normal as an act to show discontent against the board”. I fully agree with the sentiment though, and am fully onboard.

Appreciate the sentiment & agree - however the earlier we distribute more detailed information on how we will coordinate ourselves, the easier it will be for the club to intercept & disrupt what we are doing. 

 

Right now, it's all about building awareness & buy-in. 

 

@walkerleeds - hope this also answers your question, for now. 

[CosbehFox]

32 minutes ago, Houdini Logic said:

And how do you know that our CEO - the role that's ALWAYS  the highest ranking officer at any company, both inside and outside of football - cannot make a decision about the Director of Football? It's all well and good you talking about Santa mate but you're literally just making stuff up with no evidence. And this is the entire problem, the vast majority of our fans have grabbed onto the DOF without the basic understanding of how a business works.

 

And let's imagine in some crazy world you're right and that the CEO has no power at the club... surely that's even more of a reason to call out the owner and highlight that they need to sort out the structure of the club. The CEO should have ultimate responsibility for the day to day running of the club and that includes making sure the DOF is doing their job properly. If that's not how things are at LCFC then something is truly amiss. But instead of sorting it our owners and CEO are both leaving him in place to allow us to sleepwalk into relegation... AGAIN!

 

 

 

 

The club doesn’t work in the functional manner of a normal business or a top level football club 
 

Nothing more to add 

[Freeman's Wharfer]

5 hours ago, Babylon said:

Passing doesn't mean we have money to spend though. You can't bash the club for financially being stupid in the past and then ask them to be financially stupid now. It's going to be a while yet until we're back on an even footing in terms of PSR. 

 

 

5 hours ago, Babylon said:

Yep... half the stuff people moan about now all goes back to mistakes made years ago. Bashing the club for not backing the manager in January is totally nonsensical. We are operating with our arms tied behind our backs due to PSR and we simply have to be responsible to ever hope to have a reset from the PSR mess. And yes, a large portion of it is of our own making clearly.

 

I'd have happily banked the lot and spent nothing this year, so long as there was a long term plan in place. 

The thing with PSR is that, to a large extent, when it comes to what you can spend on players, you’re in charge of your own destiny.

 

People can lambast the club for not spending because it’s also down to the club to get itself in a position to be able to spend. Unfortunately, there’s one person tasked with that: the DOF.

 

If the DOF cannot sell players because he lacks the experience, the contacts or the skills to do so at the top level of the game, then you’re always going to be hamstrung by a lack of income from player sales.

 

Rudkin has overseen multiple million pound players who play at international level walking out of the door for nothing. We have failed for the past several years to sell players we don’t want for any money. A good DOF would have been able to shift the likes of Danny Ward, Hamza Choudhury and Luke Thomas for money in the last couple of years.

 

That’s without even mentioning how not allowing wages to get absurd is also on the DOF. Unfortunately, all roads lead back to Rudkin.

 

It’s fair to criticise the lack of spending this window. Doing so is criticising those who have put us in this position as much as the lack of spending itself.

[Paninistickers]

Haha, thought my post would go

 

The temerity eh to question the peculiar job specification that demands Whelan signs off weird bitcoin gambling services (with two social media followers) for tens of millions?

 

The CEO role absolutely stinks. 

[dmayne7]

On 18/01/2025 at 18:19, Skidmark said:

The buck stops with Top.

 

He must be the one to blame more so than Rudkin. 

Think this has to be the critical message now. His hubris wouldn't be able to take the criticism. If just at Rudkin, he'll think that it's just because we don't understand how a football club is actually run

[Soar Fox]

Tennis balls on the pitch versus Arsenal (live on TNT aswell) and then when they are clearing them up a loud rendition of sack the board & Rudkin echoing round the stadium. 

[C.J]

I'll be there. Yes, I expected this season to be a struggle. But it's not about that, it's the bigger picture, it's been going on too long. I'm not against KP,  but things have got stale. Board needs a shake up, Rudkin needs to go. 

We've gone from being a well run club to a shambles. We've got complacent and stood still whilst others have moved on and we've got left behind. The FA cup/community shield have masked issues as it's been going on since we won the league.

Players signed on stupidly long contracts, average players at that.

Missing out on the CL two seasons in a row, missing out on the conference league final.

Wasting money off the pitch (pyrotechnics, clappers, jobsworth matchday staff).

Bad communication with fans.

Top needs to show his new ruthless streak with Rudkin & Wheelan and get new people in. 

Other clubs are poaching staff from each other, we need to start doing the same because nothing is going to change with the same people. I don't want to watch my club become a yo-yo team.

 

[CL Fox]

7 hours ago, Babylon said:

Yep... half the stuff people moan about now all goes back to mistakes made years ago. Bashing the club for not backing the manager in January is totally nonsensical. We are operating with our arms tied behind our backs due to PSR and we simply have to be responsible to ever hope to have a reset from the PSR mess. And yes, a large portion of it is of our own making clearly.

 

I'd have happily banked the lot and spent nothing this year, so long as there was a long term plan in place. 

Issues started a long time ago, that's why people moan about them.

 

We've our arms tied up with PSR yet we're spending 25m on Skipp.....

 

 

[ProjectReset]

If you'd like to show your support for this movement, please use this simple banner on here & all social media platforms. 

 

Again, to reiterate - we are building awareness at this stage. The message intentionally simple.

 

 

 

[Heskey2011]

21 hours ago, jayfox26 said:

I think Facebook is more suited to your opinions than on here. This really is a massive steaming pile of turd! Yes we are entitled. We are entitled to support a football club that is well run and has a good connection with it's fans. Right now, the disconnect between club and fans is at an all time high. It's not even about results or our league position, it's the fact that there is no light at the end of the tunnel and the club is in free fall and being run by idiots who have no idea how to fix it. If you're happy with our owner and board then you're very much in the minority, and you certainly won't find many people agreeing with you on here. The clubs on fire and any fan not willing to try and extinguish the fire by happy clapping along is complicit with our board in destroying the club. 

Its just a case of perspective man, don't get angry with people you can't understand 

 

Being over 40 I can remember the club being run much worse than this, on multiple occasions, and the current situation to me feels miles away from the board destroying the club view point that many have. 

 

I think the board have done very well to get us straight back up, to find the likes of Fatawu, Mads, and Bilal, there's a clear pipeline of future money coming in from these kind of players.

They did well keeping hold of players like  kdh, ndidi, Ricardo when we did go down.

They consistently sell players for loads who are then rubbish at the new clubs.

Tielemans is perhaps the only sale who has increased in value since leaving us.

 

I'm not happy with the results, but again if Mads, Ndidi and Fatawu were fit I don't think we'd be in the league position we are.  

 

We were best at transfers when we had Steve Walsh doing it, I remember thinking he's a wizard, putting that (2015) team together we have to keep hold of him for ever. Then he went Everton and every single player they bought was a joke, he was awful and now he's at Charlotte fc in mls so. 

How on earth do we find a capable DoF? What does a good ones CV look like?

 

From my perspective all the current Premier league DoFs are w@nk, because they won nowt and haven't come close to mancity in the league, somehow we won the fa cup, our DoF found the characters capable of winning an FA cup!! That is mental.

When you think of all the other DoFs that have tried to win the FA cup over just the last 5 years, probably 30 prem ones in total, using football manage and Yscout looking for players capable of delivering silverware to their club. All of them fail every year.

I doubt Rudkin even has a FM save, and he did it, he found the formula.

 

The formula worked for the mammoth 46 game Championship season main issue back then was cardboard clappers, I'm not sure it was Rudkin who sorted that, but it got sorted, and the goal music, people didn't like that, also sorted, and we've trialled the SafeStanding area, and foxestrust let people into meetings that weren't direct relatives.  

Do these things not indicate the club listen to fans, at least some of the time?

 

Not saying Board out brigade are wrong, not saying everything is fine either, but probably just that people like to moan is why you hear more of those opinions than the other. Bad news travels faster than good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[C.J]

8 minutes ago, ProjectReset said:

If you'd like to show your support for this movement, please use this simple banner on here & all social media platforms. 

 

Again, to reiterate - we are building awareness at this stage. The message intentionally simple.

 

 

 

Could at least make it LCFC colours?

[ProjectReset]

1 minute ago, C.J said:

Could at least make it LCFC colours?

I appreciate the idea, but this is a considered choice. There is a reason we're going with yellow, it's symbollically important to those that matter & will allow us to stand out. 

Edited 19 January 2025 by ProjectReset

[The boy Linacre]

22 minutes ago, C.J said:

I'll be there. Yes, I expected this season to be a struggle. But it's not about that, it's the bigger picture, it's been going on too long. I'm not against KP,  but things have got stale. Board needs a shake up, Rudkin needs to go. 

We've gone from being a well run club to a shambles. We've got complacent and stood still whilst others have moved on and we've got left behind. The FA cup/community shield have masked issues as it's been going on since we won the league.

Players signed on stupidly long contracts, average players at that.

Missing out on the CL two seasons in a row, missing out on the conference league final.

Wasting money off the pitch (pyrotechnics, clappers, jobsworth matchday staff).

Bad communication with fans.

Top needs to show his new ruthless streak with Rudkin & Wheelan and get new people in. 

Other clubs are poaching staff from each other, we need to start doing the same because nothing is going to change with the same people. I don't want to watch my club become a yo-yo team.

 

3yrs 9months ago I went to Italy in the European semi final AND we finished 8th that season after already winning an English Football Trophy the Aug before.

We have managed to get relegated, get promoted AND be back in the bottom 3 in that time, STUNNING CONTINUAL INEPTITUDE.
Only the running of the country has been worst over the last 3-4 years.

Maybe Boris or Liz can take over from Rudders????  If Top has given up?

[jayfox26]

4 minutes ago, Heskey2011 said:

Its just a case of perspective man, don't get angry with people you can't understand 

 

Being over 40 I can remember the club being run much worse than this, on multiple occasions, and the current situation to me feels miles away from the board destroying the club view point that many have. 

 

I think the board have done very well to get us straight back up, to find the likes of Fatawu, Mads, and Bilal, there's a clear pipeline of future money coming in from these kind of players.

They did well keeping hold of players like  kdh, ndidi, Ricardo when we did go down.

They consistently sell players for loads who are then rubbish at the new clubs.

Tielemans is perhaps the only sale who has increased in value since leaving us.

 

I'm not happy with the results, but again if Mads, Ndidi and Fatawu were fit I don't think we'd be in the league position we are.  

 

We were best at transfers when we had Steve Walsh doing it, I remember thinking he's a wizard, putting that (2015) team together we have to keep hold of him for ever. Then he went Everton and every single player they bought was a joke, he was awful and now he's at Charlotte fc in mls so. 

How on earth do we find a capable DoF? What does a good ones CV look like?

 

From my perspective all the current Premier league DoFs are w@nk, because they won nowt and haven't come close to mancity in the league, somehow we won the fa cup, our DoF found the characters capable of winning an FA cup!! That is mental.

When you think of all the other DoFs that have tried to win the FA cup over just the last 5 years, probably 30 prem ones in total, using football manage and Yscout looking for players capable of delivering silverware to their club. All of them fail every year.

I doubt Rudkin even has a FM save, and he did it, he found the formula.

 

The formula worked for the mammoth 46 game Championship season main issue back then was cardboard clappers, I'm not sure it was Rudkin who sorted that, but it got sorted, and the goal music, people didn't like that, also sorted, and we've trialled the SafeStanding area, and foxestrust let people into meetings that weren't direct relatives.  

Do these things not indicate the club listen to fans, at least some of the time?

 

Not saying Board out brigade are wrong, not saying everything is fine either, but probably just that people like to moan is why you hear more of those opinions than the other. Bad news travels faster than good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm not angry with this guy or other fans, I just don't like the narrative that some people take with the whole "entitled" bollocks and certain parts of our fan base that try to blame other fans for the state of the club. I think deep down everyone wants best for the club but some people's view of what's best is trying to take action and making the board aware that we are unhappy with their running of the club whilst others views is to just sit and clap when the team is putting in hideous performances and the club is sinking. 

[Kopic]

Looks like a promo photo for a new Hard-Fi album.

[FrankieADZ]

21 minutes ago, Heskey2011 said:

Its just a case of perspective man, don't get angry with people you can't understand 

 

Being over 40 I can remember the club being run much worse than this, on multiple occasions, and the current situation to me feels miles away from the board destroying the club view point that many have. 

 

I think the board have done very well to get us straight back up, to find the likes of Fatawu, Mads, and Bilal, there's a clear pipeline of future money coming in from these kind of players.

They did well keeping hold of players like  kdh, ndidi, Ricardo when we did go down.

They consistently sell players for loads who are then rubbish at the new clubs.

Tielemans is perhaps the only sale who has increased in value since leaving us.

 

I'm not happy with the results, but again if Mads, Ndidi and Fatawu were fit I don't think we'd be in the league position we are.  

 

We were best at transfers when we had Steve Walsh doing it, I remember thinking he's a wizard, putting that (2015) team together we have to keep hold of him for ever. Then he went Everton and every single player they bought was a joke, he was awful and now he's at Charlotte fc in mls so. 

How on earth do we find a capable DoF? What does a good ones CV look like?

 

From my perspective all the current Premier league DoFs are w@nk, because they won nowt and haven't come close to mancity in the league, somehow we won the fa cup, our DoF found the characters capable of winning an FA cup!! That is mental.

When you think of all the other DoFs that have tried to win the FA cup over just the last 5 years, probably 30 prem ones in total, using football manage and Yscout looking for players capable of delivering silverware to their club. All of them fail every year.

I doubt Rudkin even has a FM save, and he did it, he found the formula.

 

The formula worked for the mammoth 46 game Championship season main issue back then was cardboard clappers, I'm not sure it was Rudkin who sorted that, but it got sorted, and the goal music, people didn't like that, also sorted, and we've trialled the SafeStanding area, and foxestrust let people into meetings that weren't direct relatives.  

Do these things not indicate the club listen to fans, at least some of the time?

 

Not saying Board out brigade are wrong, not saying everything is fine either, but probably just that people like to moan is why you hear more of those opinions than the other. Bad news travels faster than good.

from your post it sort of feels like you are defending them?

we dont consistently sell player for loads, we went from a model that was working to one that has totally broke the foundations of the club imo, 

Rudkin isnt fit for his job, giving vesty, BDR and Ayew 3 yr contracts on higher wages than they was on, like who does that, pure idiotic moves

and saying other DoFs are wank, think most would rather have any other, as they seem more capable than Rudkin,

look at clubs like Bournemouth, Brighton, Brentford, they have it right atm, they dont go stupid with budgets and always look ahead, while we just dont look at all

i guess we should all just accept the way the club has been mismanaged behind the scenes for the past 3/4/5 years, which will probably result in relegation to the EFL and then an EFL charge, then points deduction and probable transfer embargo

 

a part of it too, it feels like the club doesnt respect the fans, even respect their views either, we are just seen as consumers and part of me thinks theyd rather have tourist fans that actual every week ones

Edited 19 January 2025 by FrankieADZ

[ProjectReset]

Just now, Kopic said:

Looks like a promo photo for a new Hard-Fi album.

Yes, I'm 'Living For The Weekend' (of the week commencing 10/02/2025)

[Mickyblueeyes]

29 minutes ago, ProjectReset said:

If you'd like to show your support for this movement, please use this simple banner on here & all social media platforms. 

 

Again, to reiterate - we are building awareness at this stage. The message intentionally simple.

 

 

 

It needs some reference to LCFC

[SemperEadem]

24 minutes ago, ProjectReset said:

I appreciate the idea, but this is a considered choice. There is a reason we're going with yellow, it's symbollically important to those that matter & will allow us to stand out. 

Following the Sheffield Wednesday protest idea at their Thai owners?

[Viva]

15 minutes ago, The boy Linacre said:

3yrs 9months ago I went to Italy in the European semi final AND we finished 8th that season after already winning an English Football Trophy the Aug before.

We have managed to get relegated, get promoted AND be back in the bottom 3 in that time, STUNNING CONTINUAL INEPTITUDE.
Only the running of the country has been worst over the last 3-4 years.

Maybe Boris or Liz can take over from Rudders????  If Top has given up?

Where did you expect us to finish this season? We had one of the three worst squads in the league, so I expected bottom three but hoped for survival. 
Since we got relegated I think we have made many good decisions along with a few bad ones. Which is normal in football. People have just far too obsessed with Rudkin bashing.
It’s embarrassing really being a Leicester fan at the moment. Not because of what’s happening on the pitch, but what happens off it. Hounding out managers and wanting them sacked before a ball was kicked in the season. Booing players during matches. Moaning about everything and anything about the club. Basically giving no help to the players to try and stay up this season and trying to run a club that’s not theirs to run. 
We have no devine right to be a top 8 Premier League team.