Milan spells it out to the players

davieG · 20 March 2008

by Andy Mann

Milan Mandaric was today delivering a personal rallying call to the Leicester City players as the Championship season enters a crunch stage.

The City chairman and owner was taking the unusual step of meeting the players at the Belvoir Drive training ground to spell out his hopes for the seven-game "mini-season", which begins against play-off chasers Hull at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday.

City go into the game buoyed by their 4-1 success against promotion-challengers West Brom at the Hawthorns last Saturday but still only one point above the relegation zone in fifth-bottom place in the table.

Mandaric, who was invited to deliver his message by manager Ian Holloway, said: "I am not one for going into the dressing room but this is the time we need to sit down and say let's give our supporters this mini-season we owe them'.

"They all want to do well. They all care for the supporters and the club. They are good professionals and quality players - they have more quality than the position we are in."

He added: "Despite some of the results, there is a group of players who care for the club, who don't have anywhere in their minds thoughts of going down. I am positive they will demonstrate that in the next seven games."

Mandaric dismissed speculation surrounding Ian Holloway's position that surfaced in national newspapers before the excellent win at West Brom last Saturday.

He gave his backing to the City boss, calling for "stability" and "patience".

Mandaric said: "It would be so easy for me as chairman if I listened to the media - you will make my decisions so easy!

"We are searching for stability, togetherness and a hungry team. That's why we need to be patient and give the manager and coaching staff time to put a team together as a unit.

"When you have a lot of new players, as we have had, it needs time to gel.

"We are showing examples of quality in some of the games.

"The reason we haven't seen that on a consistent basis is because the members of the team haven't had enough time to be together and the manager enough time to do it."

Mandaric also issued a heartfelt thank you to fans for their support during what he admitted has been a "difficult" season.

City are expecting more than 27,000 at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday and are hopeful of a season's best. The largest home gate so far has been 27,246 for Holloway's first home game in charge against Cardiff at the end of November.

It prompted Mandaric to describe his "pride" at being chairman of a club with such backing.

Mandaric said: "This is the time to stay together, be united and give each other support.

"From the bottom of my heart, as chairman and owner, I couldn't be prouder of the Leicester supporters. I want to thank them on behalf of the players, directors and employees of the club.

"I always say your friends are those who, when you are in difficulties, are around you to give you a hand when things are not going as well as you wanted.

"You can talk about history and tradition but, week in and week out, they are there and give us tremendous support."