A decade ago, in September 2016, Leicester City were preparing for a Champions League campaign, a testament to the heights the club had reached just a few years earlier. Fast forward to the present day, and the Foxes find themselves languishing in 17th place in League One – the lowest tier they have ever occupied since joining the Football League in 1894. This dramatic fall from grace has left supporters and pundits alike questioning whether manager Russell Martin can steer the ship back toward safer waters.
Since taking charge, Martin has overseen just one victory in his first five league outings. The most recent setback was a crushing 4-0 defeat at home to Oxford United, a result that sparked a chorus of chants from the King Power Stadium crowd demanding his dismissal. The jeers reflected a deep frustration among fans who expected a fresh start after Martin’s troubled spells at Southampton and Rangers, where he struggled to find consistent form.
Former Leicester assistant manager Michael Appleton, however, remains cautiously optimistic about Martin’s prospects. In an interview on Sky Sports News' The EFL Show, Appleton acknowledged the enormity of the challenge: "It's a difficult moment, there's no doubt about it.
Russell Martin is a very experienced guy now. It was always going to be a difficult job, with big expectations from a club that not too long ago was playing in the Premier League and even winning it." Appleton noted that Martin’s track record across his three previous appointments – Southampton, Rangers and now Leicester – amounts to just three league wins in 28 attempts, underscoring the uphill battle he faces.
Appleton emphasized the urgency of turning things around: "Losing 4-0 at home, along with the results against Plymouth and Burton, makes it a very difficult start. They've got to start winning games very quickly to address it." He also highlighted the value of Martin’s experience, suggesting that the manager could draw on past hardships to calm his squad and staff: "He'll draw on those experiences and maybe use them behind the scenes with the players and staff, speaking about how they dealt with those situations and trying to keep everyone calm." Appleton concluded that while the situation is bleak, there are still promising fixtures ahead that could provide a platform for recovery.
Reading co‑CEO Joe Jacobson offered another perspective, pointing to the youth and inexperience of Leicester’s current roster as a contributing factor to the club’s woes. "They've got a really young team at the minute," Jacobson observed. "You look at the players they're bringing off the bench and they're taking off experienced players and bringing on younger ones." He warned that the pressure of performing in front of a restless fan base could weigh heavily on these emerging talents, especially given the recent history of disappointment that has eroded confidence among supporters. Jacobson also touched on the broader context of club ownership and fan sentiment.
The recent announcement that Leicester is up for sale has reignited concerns reminiscent of Reading’s own ownership turbulence. "When the owners publicly say they want to sell, it's really difficult for the fans to buy into that," Jacobson explained. "Fans feel abandoned and question the club's direction, which only adds to the anxiety surrounding the team’s performance on the pitch." Despite these challenges, both Appleton and Jacobson believe Martin possesses the tools to halt the decline. Appleton cited Martin’s previous turnaround at Southampton, where a four‑game losing streak in September was followed by an unbeaten run that lasted until February.
"If he can turn the ship, he might start to get a tune out of some of those players," Jacobson said, echoing the sentiment that a manager’s past successes can serve as a blueprint for future improvement. Looking ahead, Leicester’s next test comes against Stockport County, currently sitting third in League One. The fixture at Edgeley Park will be a litmus test for Martin’s ability to rally his side against a strong opponent.
While Stockport themselves have risen dramatically from the National League North a decade ago, they now enter the match as favourites, adding another layer of difficulty for the Foxes. In summary, Leicester City’s current predicament is the product of a perfect storm: a manager still finding his footing, a squad lacking seasoned leadership, and a fan base unsettled by ownership uncertainty. Yet the club’s storied history of resilience—most famously their 2015‑16 Premier League triumph—suggests that a turnaround, though demanding, is not impossible. If Martin can harness his experience, instill confidence in his young players, and navigate the off‑field distractions, Leicester may yet climb out of the depths of League One and begin the long journey back toward the heights they once enjoyed.