Mandaric's Post Match Press Conference

[Lillehamring]

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that Leicester City is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our supporters is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our strikers, today is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around the Walkers Stadium in numbers this club has never seen; by people who waited three years and four years, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but today, because of what we did on this day, at this defining moment, change has come to Leicester City.

I want to thank my manager in this journey, a man who managed from his heart, Nigel Pearson. And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of this club, the love of my life, Lee Hoos, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the Walkers Stadium. And to the best team ever assembled in the history of Leicester City - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you, the Supporters.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give £5 and £10 and £20 to the cause. It grew strength from the young people who were rejected by previous manager’s apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered huge pay and more sleep. This is your victory.

I know you didn't do this just to win in the 1st round of the FA cup and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime – League 1, a captain in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave City fans walking up the Upperton Road to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for their child's college education, due to the increase in Season ticket prices, an annual change of kit, and the low quality catering. There is new energy to harness and new managerial jobs to be created; a new youth team to build and threats to my wallet and the alliance & Leicester stand to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but Leicester - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as Chairman, and we know that the Birch can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, but not when we disagree.

And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this club the only way it's been done in Leicester for 124 years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began 2 years ago in the depths of administration cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of loyalty; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and pay more and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Market Street while Filbert Street suffers - in this city, we rise or fall as one club; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our club for so long. As Lineker said to a nation far more divided than ours, on match of the day: "We are not enemies, but friends… though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection, and last on tonight’s show…Leicester City"

And to those Foxes fans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your support tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your chairman too.

And to all those who have wondered if Leicester’s beacon still burns as bright - today we proved once more that the true strength of our club comes not from the might of Steve Howard’s arms or the scale of Barry Hayles, but from the enduring power of our ideals: hoof ball, the liberty statue, missing goal scoring opportunities and Chelsea Dagger.

For that is the true genius of Leicester - that we can change. Our Club can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve against Yeovil.

This Season has had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight is about a woman who sits in the west stand. She's a lot like the 6500 others who stood in line to make their voice heard, when we were winning, except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't support city for two reasons - because she was a woman and because she was only a baby.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in Leicester - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that Leicester creed: Yes, we can (for a small charge).

At a time when fan’s voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach the top of League 1. Yes, we can.

When there was despair in the crisp bowl and depression across the city, she saw a city conquer fear itself with the O’Neill Deal, new executive jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes, we can.

A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this season, she touched her finger to an ATM screen, and bought her tickets, because after 106 years in Leicester, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, we played in the Johnstones Paint Trophy. Yes, we can.

Leicester, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? Will we get back in the Premier League

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time - to put our players back to work and open doors of opportunity for the young players; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of Pearson; to reclaim the one dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are ‘in it together’; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: yes, we can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the Leicester City Football Club.

source

[syston_fox]

had me going for a second!

[Lillehamring]

had me going for a second!

they must have the same script writer

[anotherwin]

Absolute quality. thanks for that!

[ACF]

FANTASTIC!

[Fosse Boy]

chortle

[Ultra]

Obama and Mandaric may share the same passport and chromosome.

But that's where the similarity stops.

One is a born leader who's proved to be successful in everything he's ever done, despite numerous disadvantages, and commanded a crowd of 250000 at his last public appearance. November 4 2008 was a proud moment in his life and his nation's history

The other is a born megalomaniac whose record of success is rather more patchy, and commanded a crowd of 7500 to his last public appearance. November 4 2008 was an infamous point in his life and his club's history.

[Darkzzz_]

Quality

[Hullfox]

Obama and Mandaric may share the same passport and chromosome.

But that's where the similarity stops.

One is a born leader who's proved to be successful in everything he's ever done, despite numerous disadvantages, and commanded a crowd of 250000 at his last public appearance. November 4 2008 was a proud moment in his life and his nation's history

The other is a born megalomaniac whose record of success is rather more patchy, and commanded a crowd of 7500 to his last public appearance. November 4 2008 was an infamous point in his life and his club's history.

Where on earth has anybody compared the two? Nowhere except your post.

Obama may well be president elect of one of the world's super powers but rather like you he's done fook all for Leicester City.

[Webbo]

Obama may well be president elect of one of the world's super powers but rather like you he's done fook all for Leicester City.

[Thracian]

Obama and Mandaric may share the same passport and chromosome.

But that's where the similarity stops.

One is a born leader who's proved to be successful in everything he's ever done, despite numerous disadvantages, and commanded a crowd of 250000 at his last public appearance. November 4 2008 was a proud moment in his life and his nation's history

The other is a born megalomaniac whose record of success is rather more patchy, and commanded a crowd of 7500 to his last public appearance. November 4 2008 was an infamous point in his life and his club's history.

I'd always be wary of hero worship.

As for his "numerous disadvantages" all successful people had problems to overcome on their way up. But disadvantages? Professor Stephen Hawking had disadvantages.

I can't see that Obama had it especially tough in any way. In fact he seems to have ridden high on the promotional surf of "first black" all sorts, even though he's not really black at all.

Good luck to the bloke. My hope is that he's an improvement on the outgoing president which shouldn't be difficult,

But let's not harp on about "disadvatages".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama