Former Leicester City defender Conor Coady has warned that the club’s ongoing difficulties in League One point to fundamental structural problems rather than merely managerial or squad deficiencies. The former England international stated that the issues at the King Power Stadium are deeply rooted, having persisted for too many years to be attributed solely to the current manager, Russell Martin, or the players on the pitch.
Leicester are currently sitting 18th in the third tier, having accumulated only five points from their first five matches. This sentiment was reinforced by a heavy 4-0 defeat to Oxford United on Saturday. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, Coady acknowledged that while the players lacked the necessary quality, the root cause lies elsewhere.
“Everyone will sit there and go ‘the players aren’t good enough’. They haven’t been good enough. I was there, I felt it, I wasn’t good enough when I was there,” Coady said. “But there’s got to be a deeper issue.” He attributed the prolonged decline to a failure to define a clear identity after suffering three relegations within four seasons.
Coady, who joined Leicester for a reported £8.5 million in 2023 before moving to Wrexham, argued that the team has lost the fierce competitive spirit that characterized previous generations. He recalled the formidable nature of past squads featuring stars such as Jamie Vardy, James Maddison, and Wes Morgan, noting that facing them was one of the most challenging tasks in the Premier League. He believes that identity has since vanished under the club’s recent administration.
Owner Khun Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha previously told BBC Sport that he accepted responsibility for the club’s downturn and has since placed Leicester on the market with an asking price exceeding £200 million. However, Observer football journalist Rory Smith questioned whether any effective long-term strategy is now in place. Smith pointed out the inconsistent styles of recent managerial appointments as evidence of a lack of overarching direction from ownership.
While Coady praised the summer’s squad refresh and the inclusion of younger talent, he cautioned against expecting immediate results from Martin. He emphasized that if the board intends to make a swift decision after just four or five games, they should not have appointed a manager known for implementing a complex style of play. “If they’re going to make a decision after four or five games, there was no point in bringing Russell in because that’s not the sort of manager he is,” Coady added.
Former Blackburn striker Chris Sutton echoed concerns about the pressure on Martin, particularly regarding his reputation for possession-based football. Sutton suggested that critics often perceive his teams as lacking attacking thrust, which could fuel frustration if results do not improve quickly. Both Smith and Sutton noted that Leicester’s status as one of the largest clubs in League One raises expectations, leaving little room for the patience typically afforded to managers rebuilding a tactical approach. Sutton concluded that Martin needs quick results to turn the tide, as supporters expect an immediate return to the Premier League.
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