A message to Top: Leicester loves you, we really do
When Leicester City released a statement from the club’s owner after relegation from the Premier League, Iain Wright didn’t like what he was reading.
As the day dawned on Bank Holiday Monday, I wondered what it would look like being out of the Premier League.
I’d already had to console my little girl when I returned home from stadium the night before and wondered what watching the demise on TV may do to her enjoyment and love for the club. I can’t understand truly how it’s happened, so someone of 8 years of age has no chance.
“You said they were brilliant players, daddy?”
I did. They were.
Welling up
As we went through the day, my head was awash with all sorts of emotions as I replied to the many messages on my phone, which had only just come through as I’d switched the internet connection off.
It was always going to be a tough day and as we made our way into the city centre. My wife thought going shopping would take my mind off it. It was all very subdued.
I was beginning to think at least it was over and there wouldn’t be anything worse to come now… until I read Top’s statement.
To learn that Top has been the victim of abuse that’s been so bad he’s felt the need to call it out is as disgusting as it is heartbreaking. I am ashamed that anyone, whether they have supported Leicester for a lifetime or even a few weeks, could feel that the solution to the problem is to abuse the man who, alongside his family, has made the fairytale of the last decade possible.
Reading that statement hurt me far more than anything we’ve served up on the pitch this season. I’m not an overly emotional person but I’m welling up typing this. I just want to hug him.
Look at the reaction from other clubs (namely Leeds) who just got a few words from their owners and look on in wonder at Top. His statement, aside from the revelation about the abuse, was from the heart and it’s bursting with determination to put things right. It’s utterly disgraceful he’s faced abuse and the rest of us (which I’m sure is 99%) just can’t stand for it.
No, no, no
Let’s all take a moment to reflect here on what has been a difficult season with a terrible ending. Yes, the man at the top has to shoulder some of the blame. The senior team and the under 23s have been relegated and the women’s team stayed up by the skin of their teeth. What’s happened in the past can’t stop questions being asked in the present.
But abuse? Oh no. No, no, no. Things happen in the heat of the moment and if someone has done or said things they shouldn’t, I urge you to write to Top and apologise. He has to know that we’re behind him. A world without King Power in charge is too bleak to even consider.
The reality is that without Top, his family and King Power, none of the past decade would have happened. Their philanthropy has created memories beyond our wildest dreams. Their generosity to the city itself is beyond compare.
The saying goes that all good things must come to an end. Although that definitely shouldn’t have been the case with us this season, my word, they were good things.
Those calling for new investment forget one simple thing, FFP has bitten us hard – even the Sultan of Brunei wouldn’t have been able to fund a new right winger last summer as there was no room to spend. Aston Villa, Brighton and a number of others will be facing this in the near future too.
All the way to the moon
It’s almost 5 years since dear Vichai passed away. While dealing with that devastating blow, Top has made a succession of excellent decisions that led to everything positive to have happened since that tragic evening.
Yes, over the last year things have unravelled and I genuinely feel his loyalty to Brendan Rodgers and indeed Jon Rudkin has not helped him. Top will need to look into the mountain of issues on the football side and assess why the fan interaction has been so poor (ticket issues, bans and so on).
But he can’t be accountable for absolutely everything. He put his trust in Rodgers, Rudkin, the players and Susan Whelan on the commercial side to deliver. They have let Top down as much as they have let the fans down.
We’re now in a position where we need Top and his generosity more than ever. King Power walking away would hit us far harder than any relegation would. We’re so fortunate to have owners who genuinely care and are not milking the club for their own benefit or ego.
Look at the scenes after the FA Cup final in 2021 and ask yourself if that would be replicated anywhere else. Spoiler alert – they wouldn’t. He won’t walk away and thank goodness for that.
Next season will be one of the most difficult in the 140 years of the club. There’s so much to do and he’ll need to do it quickly – but, and I’m sure I speak for the 99%, he’ll be doing it with our love, gratitude and best wishes.
Top has been part of raising the club from the ground all the way to the moon - he deserves our respect and admiration while he tries to do it again.
