A decade ago, back in September 2016, Leicester City were preparing for a Champions League campaign, a testament to the heights they had reached just a few years earlier. Fast forward to today, and the Foxes find themselves languishing in 17th place in League One – the lowest rung they have ever occupied since joining the Football League in 1894. Under the stewardship of Russell Martin, Leicester have managed only a single victory in their opening five fixtures, and the most recent setback was a crushing 4-0 defeat on home soil against Oxford United. The atmosphere at the King Power Stadium was electric with frustration as supporters chanted, "You're getting sacked in the morning," directing their ire at Martin.
The manager, who was hoping for a strong start to redeem his reputation after a turbulent spell at Southampton and a challenging tenure at Rangers, now faces a hostile crowd and mounting pressure. Despite the bleak situation, former Leicester City assistant manager Michael Appleton remains cautiously optimistic about Martin's ability to turn the tide. In an interview on Sky Sports News' The EFL Show, Appleton acknowledged the gravity of the moment: "It's a difficult moment, there's no doubt about it." He highlighted Martin's experience, noting that the job was always going to be demanding given the lofty expectations attached to a club that, not long ago, competed in the Premier League and even clinched the league title.
Appleton pointed out that Martin has secured just three league wins across his recent managerial stints at Southampton, Rangers and now Leicester, spanning 28 attempts. "With those expectations, you've got to deliver," he said. "Losing 4-0 at home, combined with the results against Plymouth and Burton, makes it a very difficult start. They need to start winning games quickly to reverse the trend." He further emphasized that Martin's prior experiences at high‑profile clubs could serve as valuable lessons.
"He's been here before, at a big club with expectations in the league they were in, and he didn't get off to the start he wanted. 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 explained. Appleton also stressed the psychological impact of heavy home defeats.
"When you're in a difficult moment and you're losing games, it feels much worse when you're at home," he remarked. "I'm not saying losing 4-0 at Oxford would have been a good result in any stretch of the imagination, but when it happens at home, it feels so much worse. There's a big expectation to deal with, but I think he's more than comfortable doing it." Reading co‑CEO Joe Jacobson offered another perspective, attributing part of Leicester's struggles to the inexperience of the squad. "They've got a really young team at the minute," Jacobson said.
"You look at the players they're bringing off the bench and they're taking off experienced players and bringing on younger ones. It's difficult for those young players, who will feel the pressure and feel the atmosphere in the stadium. The fans are waiting to turn because of what's happened over the last couple of years.
It takes a long time for a fan base to turn and get right behind their team again." Jacobson believes Martin knows exactly what he wants from his side and that his clear vision could eventually bring cohesion, even if it initially creates division among supporters. He drew a parallel with Martin's earlier spell at Southampton, where a poor run of four consecutive defeats in September was followed by an unbeaten league 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 added. The co‑CEO also touched on the broader context of club ownership and its impact on fan sentiment.
Leicester's owners have recently announced that the club is up for sale, a move that mirrors recent turbulence at Reading. Jacobson noted, "When they recently came out and talked about wanting to sell the club and actively looking for a buyer, straight away the fans almost say, 'Well, you don't care now. You just want out. That's your main focus.' If the ownership are openly saying they want to sell, it's really difficult for the fans to buy into that." Despite the uncertainty, Jacobson remains hopeful about the season's prospects.
"I still think they're going to have a really successful season. Once these players get time on the training field with the manager, I'm sure they'll come good. At the minute, there's that anxiousness and a divided fan base. They want to support their club, but they also want to feel that everyone is pulling in the right direction," he concluded.
Looking ahead, Leicester's next challenge is an away fixture against Stockport County on Saturday. The County side, currently sitting third in League One, have risen dramatically from the National League North a decade ago and will enter Edgeley Park as favorites. This match presents a crucial test for Martin and his young squad; a positive result could provide a much‑needed boost in confidence and perhaps begin to shift the narrative surrounding Leicester's season. In summary, Leicester City find themselves at a historic low, grappling with a combination of managerial pressure, a youthful roster, and off‑field ownership concerns.
While the early signs are bleak, seasoned voices like Michael Appleton and Joe Jacobson argue that Russell Martin's experience, coupled with strategic adjustments and a potential rally from the fan base, could still steer the Foxes away from relegation danger. The upcoming clash with Stockport County may well serve as a barometer for whether the club can arrest its decline and begin a gradual climb back up the league ladder.