Ruud van Nistelrooy is reportedly expected to leave Leicester, with Russell Martin primed to be appointed as the Foxes’ new manager. The relegated Premier League side are said to be set to agree a deal for former Southampton boss Martin to take over imminently.
Van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper last December but has overseen a dreadful season that has ended in Leicester’s immediate return to the Championship. Despite a recent upturn in form that has seen them take seven points from their last three games, a horror run spanning December to April sealed their fate. Van Nistelrooy won his first game in charge, a 3-1 win over West Ham, and then drew with Brighton. Leicester then won only four points from their next 19 Premier League matches.
face a trip to Bournemouth on the final day of the season but they could reportedly have a new manager by that point. According to the Daily Mail, the club have been in discussions with Martin over replacing Van Nistelrooy.
If appointed, it would be Martin’s first job since he was sacked by Southampton in December. The 39-year-old oversaw a horror start to the season at St. Mary’s, with the Saints now set to be relegated to the second tier having accumulated only 12 points.
Martin carries the appeal of winning promotion and having excellent knowledge of the demands of the Championship. The former Norwich defender guided Southampton into the Premier League via the play-offs in May 2024. He has another promotion, with MK Dons from League Two, on his managerial CV.
There will be huge expectations to secure a route back into the Premier League at the first attempt next season. Planning for the Championship has been ongoing since Leicester’s relegation was confirmed on April 20, although Van Nistelrooy is said to have been excluded from those discussions.
Leicester will be joined in next season’s Championship by Ipswich and Martin’s former club Southampton. All three were promoted together last season. Of the last nine teams to be promoted to the Premier League, only Fulham and Bournemouth (both in 2021-22) were able to survive relegation in their first term. Both clubs have profited from successive campaigns at the top level and occupy 10th and 11th places, respectively, heading into the final day of the campaign.
Leeds and Burnley have already sealed promotion to the Premier League this season. They will be joined by the winners of Saturday’s play-off final between Sheffield United and Sunderland.
Meanwhile, Leicester have been referred to an independent panel over alleged breaches of profit and sustainability rules during their last season in the Championship, 2023-24. It comes after a long-running arbitration battle over who holds jurisdiction over the club, as they have bounced between the Premier League and the Championship over the last few years.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk