Susan Whelan steps down as CEO

[TheStig]

13 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

Top probably needs Rudkin sat next to him so he can ask which way we are shooting

Rudkin wouldn´t know

[Spanner73]

I can’t wait for the day when Bash it & smash it **** off ! 
 

It’ll be like Christmas Day when your 5 years old 

[Tommy G]

9 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

Meh. They'd say same about Top. Everyone gets a free pass with the players of that era despite the wheels well and truly falling off. 

 

She's the CEO and she's seen all this shit happen. If she deserves praise for all the trophy wins, she deserves criticism too. 

You are missing the point - course she deserves criticism - I think it's clear she is the lesser of evils here which is why she is getting individual praise. I've never seen a post as long from big Nige - you can't argue with him, he's the best judge of character going.

[Mickyblueeyes]

What’s happen over the last few years, is a mark on her reputation. 
 

I have no doubt as a seasoned CEO she knew how to nurture relationships. I also have no doubt she had some talent (unlike the other two morons who we now have solely running our club). 
 

However, this is the CEO role. If she were to go for a role after this (aside from a NED role which is what I think she is now suited to) it will be the first “hard” question. 
 

If you’re seeing things moving against your better judgement. Unable to control. As ceo - this ain’t some middle management 9-5, anyone who has been at the level knows, you leave before you’re pushed.

 

Great to see legends come out and speak up for her but the lack of action for the last 4 years leaves a lot of unanswered questions about her role in the demise and that is not a good look for a seasoned, capable executive. 

[Tommy G]

27 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

What’s happen over the last few years, is a mark on her reputation. 
 

I have no doubt as a seasoned CEO she knew how to nurture relationships. I also have no doubt she had some talent (unlike the other two morons who we now have solely running our club). 
 

However, this is the CEO role. If she were to go for a role after this (aside from a NED role which is what I think she is now suited to) it will be the first “hard” question. 
 

If you’re seeing things moving against your better judgement. Unable to control. As ceo - this ain’t some middle management 9-5, anyone who has been at the level knows, you leave before you’re pushed.

 

Great to see legends come out and speak up for her but the lack of action for the last 4 years leaves a lot of unanswered questions about her role in the demise and that is not a good look for a seasoned, capable executive. 

She may have got into a ''fvck you'' mindset, quite happy to coast given shes 62(?) and this will be her last big job, pick up a few years salary at £300K a year and sit and wait til she's settled out the business. I think if she was 40 she would of legged it a long time ago, knowing her hands are tied at a club where she probably didn't have much autonomy, Top making wild decisions and clearly favouring his DofF over his CEO. 

 

At this stage in her career her rep doesn't matter as much, and as you rightly said could easily now get a cpl of NED jobs to fill her spare time as I'm sure she's financially independent. 

[Mickyblueeyes]

4 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

She may have got into a ''fvck you'' mindset, quite happy to coast given shes 62(?) and this will be her last big job, pick up a few years salary at £300K a year and sit and wait til she's settled out the business. I think if she was 40 she would of legged it a long time ago, knowing her hands are tied at a club where she probably didn't have much autonomy, Top making wild decisions and clearly favouring his DofF over his CEO. 

 

At this stage in her career her rep doesn't matter as much, and as you rightly said could easily now get a cpl of NED jobs to fill her spare time as I'm sure she's financially independent. 

But that’s it, isn’t it. I think, Susan Whelan is a highly capable individual. She came across in the early years (first interview, Nige presser, Claudio presser as examples) as articulate and capable. Highly respected by peers. However, the only logical reason she went into a hole for the last few years is to pick up a fantastic package she wasn’t truly earning. 
 

From a Leicester City perspective - if true, despite the glowing goodbyes, and even though she is the 3rd in the list of ninkunpoops on the table of ninkunpoops, a toothless CEO is as bad as an incompetent one - we’ve moved to an incompetent one. 
 

It’s a disapointing way to end a respectable career and a mark on her reputation (which regardless of your age, should still be of paramount importance). Like I said this isn’t middle management, it’s a hard earned spot - anyone who has done it and got to a respectable c suite position shouldn’t just sit there and collect a paycheck. 
 

And with what has happened in the last few years, there will be question marks on her character. Which is never a good thing.

[Tommy G]

14 minutes ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

But that’s it, isn’t it. I think, Susan Whelan is a highly capable individual. She came across in the early years (first interview, Nige presser, Claudio presser as examples) as articulate and capable. Highly respected by peers. However, the only logical reason she went into a hole for the last few years is to pick up a fantastic package she wasn’t truly earning. 
 

From a Leicester City perspective - if true, despite the glowing goodbyes, and even though she is the 3rd in the list of ninkunpoops on the table of ninkunpoops, a toothless CEO is as bad as an incompetent one - we’ve moved to an incompetent one. 
 

It’s a disapointing way to end a respectable career and a mark on her reputation (which regardless of your age, should still be of paramount importance). Like I said this isn’t middle management, it’s a hard earned spot - anyone who has done it and got to a respectable c suite position shouldn’t just sit there and collect a paycheck. 
 

And with what has happened in the last few years, there will be question marks on her character. Which is never a good thing.

I agree - I'm just trying to get my head around the last few years and understand what has happened here from her POV

[CosbehFox]

1 hour ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

What’s happen over the last few years, is a mark on her reputation. 
 

I have no doubt as a seasoned CEO she knew how to nurture relationships. I also have no doubt she had some talent (unlike the other two morons who we now have solely running our club). 
 

However, this is the CEO role. If she were to go for a role after this (aside from a NED role which is what I think she is now suited to) it will be the first “hard” question. 
 

If you’re seeing things moving against your better judgement. Unable to control. As ceo - this ain’t some middle management 9-5, anyone who has been at the level knows, you leave before you’re pushed.

 

Great to see legends come out and speak up for her but the lack of action for the last 4 years leaves a lot of unanswered questions about her role in the demise and that is not a good look for a seasoned, capable executive. 

There's a slight difference here though to industry norm. Whelan's career is indebted to Vichai and the family. She has a loyalty which is deeper than a workplace. My gut is that she felt the need to be 'in the room' for their sakes and obviously that's changed in the last twelve months with Top getting his status downgraded in the family business. The indications are that the family have stepped away from the club. 

 

I don't think playing side decisions were her issue and I think the ex players and Nige commenting say a lot from that perspective. The incompetency of the DoF meant she had to blur the lines of her role. The sales of Maguire and Fofana tell us that. 

 

There is a list of bad decisions on the non-playing stuff which deserves significant criticism.

 

My take as well is that Whelan understood fans concerns better than anyone and was more approachable to fans, fan groups and understood footballing culture. However I don't know if it makes it worse if she understood the problems with the non-playing side and failed to action them or rather she was eroded down by the culture led by others (sometimes being pulled away and stepping into areas she was supposed to have no say into). Safe Standing is one example which was a disaster with her involvement but then there are examples where she stepped in to make things happen for supporters et al. 

 

I think the best compliment you can give Whelan is that on the football side of the things, she's never had the gumption to be front face in post victory celebrations. She recognises the team are the worthy part of that. Yet often bad news was always communicated or announced by her. 

Edited 9 October 2025 by CosbehFox

[Stadt]

Whelan going should be a good thing for a normal club but it's not; it represents Top and Rudkin clawing more control with their grubby, stubby fingers. If we actually appoint a new CEO (sceptical) they'll be even more pliant than Whelan.

 

[Nickaj]

On 03/10/2025 at 06:29, Sly said:

 

 

The question is, was she ever in power, or was it Top or Rudkin. 

The suggestion is that she was in office but not in power, held in place by her other links to King Power

[Globalfox]

45 minutes ago, Nickaj said:

The suggestion is that she was in office but not in power, held in place by her other links to King Power

Fans really don’t understand how the business works. The Articles of Association set the tone. Top changed these 18 months or so ago to make it that he on his own makes decisions. Everyone else is subservient to his desires. This is a lousy way to run a business but that is what it is. Mr Rudkin is clearly held in the highest regard by Top not just at the Football Club but his other sporting enterprises. So that’s where power sits nowhere else and that is always a recipe for bad decisions. The club has lost an excellent professional as others have written. We wait for a replacement but do not expect that person to have any power the `articles are clear that sits with Top.

[Dan]

The club is completely screwed until the ownership changes. Pick the bones out of everything, this is the final box on the flow chart. No matter how you dress it up.

[Gamble92]

6 hours ago, Mickyblueeyes said:

But that’s it, isn’t it. I think, Susan Whelan is a highly capable individual. She came across in the early years (first interview, Nige presser, Claudio presser as examples) as articulate and capable. Highly respected by peers. However, the only logical reason she went into a hole for the last few years is to pick up a fantastic package she wasn’t truly earning. 
 

From a Leicester City perspective - if true, despite the glowing goodbyes, and even though she is the 3rd in the list of ninkunpoops on the table of ninkunpoops, a toothless CEO is as bad as an incompetent one - we’ve moved to an incompetent one. 
 

It’s a disapointing way to end a respectable career and a mark on her reputation (which regardless of your age, should still be of paramount importance). Like I said this isn’t middle management, it’s a hard earned spot - anyone who has done it and got to a respectable c suite position shouldn’t just sit there and collect a paycheck. 
 

And with what has happened in the last few years, there will be question marks on her character. Which is never a good thing.

Very well put and I think this is what I was getting at with the player love in. 

 

It's clearly a **** you to Rudkin more than anything. 

 

Being well liked doesn't mean you were good at what you did and to if she did just coast by and didn't give a **** in the last few years then she's as much to blame as anyone. 

[lanefox]

22 hours ago, MattFox said:

Will be interesting to see how many of our club legends come out to bat for Rudkin if he ever leaves

Guy Branston 

[Guest WarehamFox]

On 08/10/2025 at 17:32, MattFox said:

Will be interesting to see how many of our club legends come out to bat for Rudkin if he ever leaves

[Tiny earl]

3 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

Very well put and I think this is what I was getting at with the player love in. 

 

It's clearly a **** you to Rudkin more than anything. 

 

Being well liked doesn't mean you were good at what you did and to if she did just coast by and didn't give a **** in the last few years then she's as much to blame as anyone. 

No,it’s definitely not a subliminal message about Ruskin.

its a heartfelt note to someone they admire.

Do you really think Nigel Pearson is scared to say what he thinks!

 

 

[Gamble92]

3 hours ago, Tiny earl said:

No,it’s definitely not a subliminal message about Ruskin.

its a heartfelt note to someone they admire.

Do you really think Nigel Pearson is scared to say what he thinks!

 

 

No but I also don't think he's going to get 8 Carling deep on a Sunday and tweet "Rudkins a twat"

[AjcW]

9 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

No but I also don't think he's going to get 8 Carling deep on a Sunday and tweet "Rudkins a twat"

How good would that be though  

[VG Fox]

6 minutes ago, AjcW said:

'No but I also don't think he's going to get 8 Carling deep on a Sunday and tweet "Rudkins a twat"..........How good would that be though  

f'ing wonderful, it would make me very happy, cos ruskin is exactly that

[deep blue]

Do you remember the summer after Vardy joined, when he was in such a bad way that he considered giving it all up?  He said he was given huge support from within the club which convinced him to work at turning it round and sticking with us.

 

I think it's no coincidence that Vardy and Nige are the two that have come out with such glowing tributes to Susan.  I suspect that she was the one from high in the club that gave approval and support to the attempts to keep Vardy on board, especially given the references to her empathy and kindness that come through from the two statements.

 

If so, I certainly think that tips the balance when assessing her overall contribution to our club.

Edited 10 October 2025 by deep blue
Spelling

[Gamble92]

You know stuff like making sure we don't get run completely irresponsibly by spending more on wages than our actual turnover, who's job was that? 

 

Sounds like a loaded question but I'm just struggling to see this part of the journey where Leicester had the success because it was being run like a good business? 

[st albans fox]

32 minutes ago, Gamble92 said:

You know stuff like making sure we don't get run completely irresponsibly by spending more on wages than our actual turnover, who's job was that? 

 

Sounds like a loaded question but I'm just struggling to see this part of the journey where Leicester had the success because it was being run like a good business? 

She wasn’t handing out the contracts 

she was busy redoing the budgets after rudders and top did their stuff 

 

she didn’t have final say on anything on the playing side  (including budgets). 

[Gamble92]

14 minutes ago, st albans fox said:

She wasn’t handing out the contracts 

she was busy redoing the budgets after rudders and top did their stuff 

 

she didn’t have final say on anything on the playing side  (including budgets). 

So she was telling them this isn't sustainable and they ignored her and she decided to stay in position for years after despite this?

[davieG]

49 minutes ago, Gamble92 said:

You know stuff like making sure we don't get run completely irresponsibly by spending more on wages than our actual turnover, who's job was that? 

 

Sounds like a loaded question but I'm just struggling to see this part of the journey where Leicester had the success because it was being run like a good business? 

I'd assume that Rudkin and Kevin Davies (financial director) would have significant input about the players and the available funds and submit that to the CEO and Board for approval.

[st albans fox]

2 hours ago, Gamble92 said:

So she was telling them this isn't sustainable and they ignored her and she decided to stay in position for years after despite this?

Yes