-and-Donald-Trump.jpeg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Trump renews calls for ABC to fire Jimmy Kimmel with threat: ‘It better be soon’ – UK Times")
You can hear the pain in Wes Morgan’s voice as he pauses before answering.
‘Yeah, it’s not good,’ he admits, when asked by Daily Mail Sport for his reaction to Leicester City’s relegation to League One – confirmed following a 2-2 draw with Hull City last week, and almost exactly 10 years since the Foxes’ extraordinary Premier League title win.
Morgan captained that side, 5,000-1 outsiders who produced one of the greatest shocks in sporting history.
‘We were part of something very special. The best period the club has ever had. So to see where they are now is difficult. It’s been a struggle all season, so when the final nail in the coffin comes, you’re not totally surprised, but it’s still tough to accept.’
The 2025-26 campaign has been torrid. Leicester have dramatically underperformed and turmoil off the pitch has matched the mess on it. A six-point deduction for breaching EFL financial rules compounded matters, but results have been the biggest issue. The Foxes have picked up just 12 points from their past 19 games despite having one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history.
It is a stark contrast to Morgan’s nine years at Leicester, where he won the Championship, Premier League and FA Cup. He also featured in the Champions League and Europa League across 323 games for the club.
Defender Wes Morgan (left) captained Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016 and to FA Cup glory in 2021
But the Foxes have fallen incredibly far in the last five years, with their relegation to League One confirmed earlier this month
‘It’s difficult to see how things have gone,’ he says. ‘We left the club in a good place and expected it to stay around that level. But football always has its ups and downs.’
Morgan remains in touch with his former team-mates and admits there has been more chat than usual as the anniversary of their title win approaches, and as Leicester’s struggles have accelerated.
In recent months, blame has been directed in multiple directions. Chief football officer Jon Rudkin and chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha have come under intense pressure, as has an underperforming squad. Frustrations spilled over after a defeat at Portsmouth earlier this month when midfielder Harry Winks clashed with fans and told them to ‘f*** off’ – one of several flashpoints in a season marked by tension.
Poor recruitment, financial mismanagement and constant upheaval in the dugout have all played a part too. Leicester have had four permanent managers in two years, with Marti Cifuentes the latest to depart in January. Gary Rowett has overseen the final stretch, but only after club legend Andy King lost all four games as caretaker, time the Foxes could ill-afford to waste. Morgan is reluctant to single out specific areas for blame and instead sees the season as one failure after another.
‘Everyone has to take responsibility,’ he says. ‘It’s down to the club and players on the pitch to get the results and that’s not happened. I just hope they take a proper look into how the club has ended up here and make the necessary changes.’
One criticism is that Leicester have lost the underdog mentality that defined their success, with some pointing to the club’s £100million Seagrave training complex as an example, suggesting players have become too comfortable. Morgan disagrees but accepts Leicester must regain their identity.
‘You’re only the underdog until you’re not,’ he says. ‘Leicester were the underdog and then they were challenging in European competitions and for top positions for a long time. You climb out of that status.
‘Times have changed, so I’m not sure whether it’s appropriate to bring that back. But you have to remember where Leicester were, and they have some good players who have underperformed. They need to find a winning formula again.’
Gary Rowett (pictured) has overseen the final part of the season, but only after club legend Andy King lost all four games as caretaker, time the Foxes could ill-afford to waste
Leicester have picked up just 12 points from their past 19 games despite having one of the most expensively assembled squads in Championship history
Since retiring after lifting the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021, Morgan has explored business, charity and football ventures. He has also completed an MSc in sports directorship and expressed a desire to move into the executive side of the game. So, would he be open to helping Leicester out?
‘If the invitation came, I’d consider it,’ he says. ‘I’ve spoken about moving into senior management and Leicester is in my heart, so if there was an opportunity, I’d explore it.’
And what would he look to do? ‘I’d identify what’s gone wrong, who’s underperformed and make the necessary changes,’ he says. ‘We’re in League One now and the money isn’t the same. Getting experienced people who understand the league and what it takes to get out of it will be important. There will be a lot of changes, but it’s key to get in personnel who have the right attitude and understand what it means to play for Leicester.’
Rowett has expressed an interest in staying on as manager, though the job is expected to attract plenty of applicants despite the scale of the rebuild. Relegation to the third tier for only the second time in the club’s history leaves a projected £70million financial gap and will inevitably mean a squad overhaul.
One potential solution lies in the academy, one of the few positives this season. Young talents such as Ben Nelson, Jeremy Monga and Louis Page have featured, while others like Jake Evans, Will Alves and Sammy Braybrooke have shown signs of their potential out on loan.
‘That could be a way to go,’ Morgan adds. ‘Leicester have always produced good academy players who have gone on to do great things. There are a lot of young players in the squad now who are very talented. Hopefully they’ll get the chance to show what they can do. They’re more than capable of making their mark to help them fight back out of the league.’
Morgan is speaking at a Leicester City in the Community event with Silver Foxes, the club’s group for fans over 50, after Sky Bet’s Building Foundations fund provided a £55,000 grant towards a new minibus to help participants attend sessions.
‘This is really important and helpful because it can be a struggle for these guys to get around, socialise and stay connected,’ Morgan says. ‘It’s also important for the mental health aspect that they can still get to places and enjoy life, and it was good to meet the Silver Fox guys and hear their stories.’
Morgan is looking forward to reuniting with his title-winning team-mates at a match to raise funds for charity
He will captain a Leicester Legends team managed by Claudio Ranieri (pictured). ‘It’s great the boys will be back together and reminisce over the good times’
For now, attention turns to the 10-year anniversary of Leicester’s title win, although it is perhaps symptomatic of the club’s situation that a match to honour the triumph was announced the night before relegation.
Morgan will captain a Leicester Legends team managed by Claudio Ranieri against a club All Star XI in next month’s fixture, which will raise funds for the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation. It is hoped the occasion can lift spirits despite the paradox of celebrating a past glory at a miserable juncture in the club’s history.
‘It’s been a difficult year,’ Morgan concludes. ‘So bringing some positivity back and giving the fans and the club a moment to enjoy is important. It’s great the boys will be back together and reminisce over the good times, have a laugh and a beer, and play in front of supporters again.
‘What we achieved needs to be remembered and recognised. It’s not ideal timing, but I think the fans will be happy to reflect on the good times and one of the biggest moments – not just in Leicester’s history – but in Premier League and football history.’
Carrick’s Boro reign criticised
Michael Carrick may be closing in on the Manchester United job long-term, but he was ranked as the least efficient head coach in the Championship for the 2024-25 season.
That’s according to the second Global State Of Football report, produced by world-leading AI technology company PLAIER and the University of St Gallen.
Michael Carrick was ranked as the least efficient head coach in the Championship for the 2024-25 season while in the top job at Middlesbrough
The report analysed 226 clubs across 14 leagues, looking at metrics such as squad quality, sporting director efficiency, coaching efficiency and financial stability.
The report generated several other interesting findings across the second tier, including ranking the division as the least financially stable league across those measured, while Norwich City’s 13th-place finish contributed to the Canaries having the lowest sporting director efficiency rating.
Elsewhere, Paul Warne and John Eustace were viewed as the most efficient coaches as Derby County avoided relegation on their return to the Championship, despite Warne being sacked and replaced by Eustace in February 2025.
The full report can be accessed here – https://report.plaier.com
