Inside shambles at Leicester City – where a defender brought his dog to training

[Durnerz]

The dog might actually win the ball. Seriously though, it’s hardly surprising hearing all this with how things have been on the pitch. 

[fazzyfox]

Liaison Person “I’ve been told to walk b***dy Vestergaards dog around the training ground”

 

Groundsman “Who’s gonna take the s**t away”

 

Liaison Person “No-one, he’s here for another 2 1/2 years!”

[ChrisFilter]

4 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

They’re like children led by the biggest and most useless child out of all them, the rat bastard, **** Top.

 

I despise the man. Absolute useless owner, son and overall person. 

Bit weird when it’s all based on supposition. 
 

Clearly there are significant long-term issues which he’s overseen, but the guy is between a rock and a hard place. The club was so important to his dad, so selling up isn’t an easy decision for him to make, and he’s clearly not deliberately ****ing things up. 
 

 

[UniFox21]

Nothing ground breaking here, but sets the tone sufficiently about how little the players all care about the situation 

[bovril]

Babe, wake up. A new embarrassing LCFC article just dropped. 

[Bilo]

The club deserves everything that is coming to it.

 

A pity that the fans have to suffer because of their incompetence.

[VLC86]

44 minutes ago, surrifox said:

And I bet he didn’t pick up its 💩

There are many reasons for this. The dog hasn’t got hands and Yannik is way too big to fit in a bag.

[Richard]

We need to find the next Big Nige to clear this shit out

[AjcW]

I wonder what has made the press turn? Just riding the wave or have the club finally lost their media friends too? 

[fazzyfox]

We already have Donkeys, snakes, rats and pussies (as in cowards) at Seagrave, why not welcome dogs too and have a menagerie

[sdb]

1 hour ago, urban.spaceman said:

 

Ruud van Nistelrooy sprung new formation on team shortly before 4-0 loss at Brentford and new coach Barry-Murphy had training-ground bust-up

Sam Wallace01 March 2025 8:39am GMT

 

Ruud van Nistelrooy has endured a chastening start to his Leicester City tenure Credit: Getty Images/Rob Newell

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 11th Premier League defeat as Leicester Citymanager on Thursday night was a humiliating capitulation at the hands of West Ham United, and as relegation looms so the sense of drift has become acute. A Premier League great as a striker, Van Nistelrooy’s first long-term managerial appointment in the English game has seen players dropped and reinstated, staff changed, but performances and results in inexorable decline.

It has been the dismal performance of certain players, once again in the first half on Thursday, that has prompted pundits to wonder aloud whether the team are simply resigned to their fate. “Zero quality, zero belief in what they were doing,” said the former Leicester player Neil Lennon, for TNT Sports, “the game seemed to pass them by”. His fellow pundit Joe Cole highlighted a lacklustre recovery run by the midfielder Harry Winks, who had only come on as a substitute at West Ham.

Winks is one of three senior players, along with Conor Coady and Jannik Vestergaard, who commute from their homes in other parts of the country to the training ground in north Leicestershire, and the King Power Stadium. Having identified a less-than-ideal spirit among the group, with Vestergaard in particular leaving the training ground soon after the end of sessions, Van Nistelrooy said to those players that they had to spend more time in proximity to the club’s Seagrave base.

Vestergaard, who clashed with both Brendan Rodgers and Van Nistelrooy’s predecessor Steve Cooper, was rewarded with a new contract in the summer. The Danish defender commutes from London. It was agreed that he could stay occasionally at the five-star standard accommodation on the first floor of the training ground, which players, staff and the guests of the owners, the Srivaddhanaprabha family, have used in the past.

 

Jannik Vestergaard bought his dog to Leicester training Credit: Getty Images/Plumb Images

Subsequently, some members of staff were surprised to learn that Vestergaard had brought his dog with him to stay at the training ground. He was spotted walking the dog around the training ground pitches in the morning as team-mates arrived. Vestergaard also asked one of the club’s player liaison officers to take care of the dog while he was training. In football, player liaison officers, in general, are those most often subject to unusual requests. Nevertheless, the appearance of Vestergaard’s dog at a high-performance training centre – Seagrave is among the most advanced in the country – caused surprise among some and was regarded as indicative of a culture where certain players feel they can do what they want.

 

Vestergaard and his dog

Telegraph Sport has been told that Vestergaard was given permission to bring his dog by the club on this one occasion because his family in London were away and there was no one to care for it. It is understood that it was considered a “one-off” and solely as a means to help him prepare. In a separate incident, having been substituted against West Ham, Vestergaard appeared to ignore Van Nistelrooy’s offer of a touchline handshake.

Formation changed on day of game

Ahead of their previous game, a 4-0 defeat by Brentford last Friday, Van Nistelrooy eventually decided on a 4-3-3 formation for which the players had not prepared during the week and that was announced on the day of the game. The team collapsed in the first half, prompting Van Nistelrooy to lament that the gap between his side and their visitors that day had been too great. Behind the scenes there had been disquiet.

Telegraph Sport has been told that, although there was a change to the formation communicated late on, it was nothing more than what was described as a “tweak” and the kind that would often be made in-game by a manager. The nature of the personnel did not change and it was more about the roles being asked of certain midfielders.

On Monday, Leicester announced the departure of two staff members whom Van Nistelrooy had inherited, the first team coach Ben Dawson and Danny Alcock. The pair were called into meetings that morning with Van Nistelrooy and told that their services were no longer required. As Telegraph Sport has reported, Dawson was doing most of the on-field coaching. Before Christmas, Van Nistelrooy had appointed Brian Barry-Murphy to his staff. The 46-year-old had a long playing career as a midfielder, and latterly was Rochdale manager and also coach of the development team at Manchester City. The pair had not worked together previously.

 

Brian Barry-Murphy had an argument with the first-team squad after a training session Credit: Getty Images/Plumb Images

In the lead-up to the Brentford game it is understood that Barry-Murphy clashed with the first-team players over a session he had personally overseen. The row between the players and the coach continued inside the building at Seagrave. It is understood that Barry-Murphy accused the players of not following his instructions. The players responded by saying that the guidance had been unclear. The next day Barry-Murphy apologised to the players and the squad continued preparation.

Telegraph Sport has been told that it was a standard dispute on a Premier League training pitch and nothing more than, sources said, “a couple of cross words”. Players and staff were said to have moved on from it the following day.

Major decision looms on Vardy future

The nature of the most recent defeats has been particularly damaging for Van Nistelrooy, who now faces a daunting run of fixtures starting with a visit to Chelsea and former Leicester manager Enzo Maresca a week on Sunday. After that it is his former club Manchester United at home, then Manchester City (away), Newcastle United (home), Brighton (away) and leaders Liverpool at the King Power on April 20. Those 11 league defeats have come in their last 12 games under Van Nistelrooy. Equally troubling for their manager is that they have gone six straight home games without scoring a goal, breaking the Premier League record.

There were more chants in the home defeat by Brentford calling for the end of Jon Rudkin’s 11 years as the day-to-day power at the club. He rose to become the director of football, first as the right-hand man of the late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who powered Leicester’s 2014 promotion and Premier League title triumph two years later, and subsequently Vichai’s son Aiyawatt, known as Top. Rudkin and Top make all the decisions – including the appointment of Van Nistelrooy.

While Van Nistelrooy has been able to make changes to his staff, the same has not been the case with his squad. About £70 million was spent on fees late in the summer window, once it was clear Leicester had escaped a points deduction under Premier League profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). The only signing in January was French full-back Woyo Coulibaly for £3 million from Parma. Loan signing Odsonne Édouard has not featured since November 10 despite the cost of his £2.5 million fee and wages.

 

Odsonne Édouard has not played for Leicester since November Credit: Getty Images/Plumb Images

The set-piece coach Andy Hughes, the third senior member of the staff Van Nistelrooy inherited, has had his role with the first team dramatically reduced in recent weeks. The staff around Van Nistelrooy now includes Jelle ten Rouwelaar, the goalkeeper coach. Like Van Nistelrooy, Ten Rouwelaar was appointed by United under then manager Erik ten Hag, and also later jettisoned by Ruben Amorim. Ten Rouwelaar is the most senior of the coaches. Van Nistelrooy has also promoted the former Leicester player Andy King, previously in the academy, to the first-team staff.

The club also have a major decision to make over the career of Jamie Vardy, their greatest ever player, who is once again out of contract in the summer. The striker, who powered them to their 2016 Premier League title and has 198 goals for the club, was out of contract last summer and subsequently renewed. A huge figure at Leicester, Vardy was asked on the balcony at the Championship title celebrations in the summer whether he would play on. He responded, “That’s on Jon Rudkin.”

That decision looms again for Leicester’s director of football, as well as a second relegation in three years – if results continue in the same way. Whether Van Nistelrooy would survive that outcome to this season will depend on Rudkin and Top, and also the finances of the club, and their PSR compliancy.

Oh my days. So things are somehow worse than we thought. And we thought it couldn't be any worse ...

 

This is the sort of article you read about some unrelated club in the lower leagues, and you weep in sympathy for their fans. Well now it's us. This is just the beginning of a horrendous slide and I'd be far less surprised to see us in League 1 in the next 5 years than back in the Prem.

[westernpark]

I don’t think it was unreasonable to give Vestegaard a new deal, considering at the time Enzo was manager and how crucial he was last season. However, at his age a year deal plus an extension if plays x amount of games and we stays up would have been good planning. 
I remember Lloyd Dyer signing for Watford after we offered him something similar, saying it was our policy re age of players but then gave Wes Morgan a big contract!

[DJ Barry Hammond]

Hmmmm. 
 

Someone inside the club is quite deliberately leaking information to the press.

 

Could it be…

 

 

 

Rebecca Vardy!?!

 

😂

[sdb]

4 minutes ago, westernpark said:

I don’t think it was unreasonable to give Vestegaard a new deal, considering at the time Enzo was manager and how crucial he was last season. However, at his age a year deal plus an extension if plays x amount of games and we stays up would have been good planning. 
I remember Lloyd Dyer signing for Watford after we offered him something similar, saying it was our policy re age of players but then gave Wes Morgan a big contract!

Yeah but Wes Morgan captained us to the Premier League 20 months later. Jannick Vestergaard isn't going to be doing that with any club, ever. He can't even go to work without a support puppy.

Edited 1 March by sdb

[fox_favourite]

The club pampers too much to the players, and that is clear to see. It's pathetic, the players have too much power and that has been an issue for years. 

 

Get strong management in and sort this mess out. 

[Foxin_Mad]

27 minutes ago, Soar Fox said:

The whole club needs clearing out and starting again. The owners, directors, manager, coaches, every player bar Bilal & Mads can go and I’ll include Vardy in that unfortunately. 
 

We need a Pearson type figure to come in and not be bothered about upsetting anyone like he did when he rejoined back in 2011. The players know they can do what they want without any consequences. Don’t like a manager, just run upstairs to the man child an whinge and he’ll sack him. Top has created this “family”‘environment for the players where they aren’t held accountable and now they are showing the have zero respect for him and the club. 
 

Get them all gone. 

I’d say including large parts of the support staff too, the whole culture seems rotted to the core.

 

The coach shouldn’t be apologising. Any player who steps out of line should be punished, worse case they never play for the first team again. There is too much power for a lazy entitled spineless bunch of ***** with the most piss weak pathetic mentality. They do not realise how lucky they are. 
 

I hear we can’t afford to sack another management team now.

 

We need an absolute old school bastard to come in here ala big Sam,  Warnock, Dyche, Pearson and sort these entitled useless ****wits up. I don’t care if it hurts their pathetic mentality or feelings get a grip or just **** off. Everything wrong with the modern world. 

[honeybradger]

1 hour ago, Richard said:

Slowly but surely regressing back to the 2000s Leicester City

Not so slowly

[markko]

1 hour ago, los dedos said:

Have LCFC  sacked anyone lately ? 👀

Most of it not a big issue for me. What I do have an issue with is the lack of effort shown by some. Winks is on good money but since Christmas he has been very poor. There is a lack of athleticism and application. He came on as a sub and jogged back. There is no excuse for that. I don't take issue with Vesty because we all know what he is and is not. You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear! Faes attitude is dreadful. Justin and Christianson try hard but are just not at the level needed. I am baffled (like we all are) by some of the signings and contracts and if that is Rudkin he needs to go. Skipp and Edouard are a complete waste of money. If you have not got much money then spend it wisely. I hate this we are ready to battle and then what we got at West Ham. What does Ruud do walk up and down looking moody. Just what is needed. He needs to go now.

[ozvaldo]

Seagrave is a holiday camp ran by people completely out of their depth. 
 

Top needs to either come and run it day to day on the ground and stop killing the legacy his dad built. Or he needs to sell up. 
 

There is clearly no structure, discipline or respect hierarchies. Players do what they want and that is reflected in the pitch. Yes, while a late tweak to a starting 11 might require these idiots to think a bit more, it doesn’t mean they can’t sprint and press and try hard. 
 

I think back to Enzo’s first few weeks. I’m pretty sure he refused a trip abroad for pre-season and instead told all the players to back a bag for 2-3 weeks, get to Seagrave and he’s going to instill his ideas and philosophy.  That was probably the last true bit of organization we’ve had.  
 

It’s such a ****ing mess and it’s embarrassing now tbh. 

Edited 1 March by ozvaldo

[fazzyfox]

When they said Dog Leash spotted at Seagrave I mis-heard and thought Kenny was coming out of retirement to manage us 

[reynard]

The dog is frankly a non-story. He was given permission to have it the training ground by the club as a one-off.

 

What is more worrying is that this article highlights that all is not settled within the club. Not even the disagreements, which, to a certain extent, are normal in workplace environments. But, more that this stuff has been leaked to the press and that the press feel the need to "big up" the story to make an article. If all was well and the club doing even OK on the pitch then this sort of story would not even make the papers.

Moreover, we don't even really need this sort of article to highlight what we can all see. The results and the performances all indicate that the standards off the pitch are not what they should be and lead to suspicions that the players simply have no respect for the club. Frankly I'm not at all surprised to read this sort of stuff, it goes with the territory of any sinking ship.

[Noahfence]

Must be annoying for Winks having to travel to training & home games from Enzos house 

[Tuna]

Thought Winks lived in Nottingham?

 

Anyway, bit of a non story the dog (no jokes about it being a great dane  ?)

 

Just seems the club is a bit of a mess and just adds more to that narrative. Where are the leaders?

 

Pearson would have never stood for this. Club needs a massive clear out of personnel, but you know it won't happen with this ownership.

[Aleksz]

 

[Parker Pen]

The article highlights the lack of leadership doesn’t it because why does it need a leaked press story to highlight your issues. Ruud and His coaching staff should be making them run laps around Vicky park if they had any bottle! Clearly it suggests that the problem children are Vestergaard, Winks and Coady. Transfer list all 3 and make them train on their own.