Uncertainty clouds Foxes' future

- Published
Ruud van Nistelrooy has promised to fight on at Leicester but even the biggest optimist knows their Premier League future is bleak.
Second bottom, 15 points from safety with seven games left, the Foxes could also set a club-record of nine-straight defeats if they lose at Brighton on Saturday.
The decision to replace Steve Cooper with Van Nistelrooy in November has backfired with the Dutchman winning just three of his 20 games.
He said discussions over the future will happen but they are talks which need to start sooner rather than later.
Questions over the commitment of the players, as well as over the intensity and quality of training have been posed this week as the Foxes slip towards relegation.
Yet Van Nistelrooy is adamant there is still a desire for a battle at the bottom.
He said: "There's always a fight left, there's always a future, whatever the scenario and when that comes to a conclusion, either way there is a future and that means there is a fight.
"It's a challenge to break the cycle, you need personality and character to break this. It's going on too long, it's very hard but there's only one way to break it and that's to fight and believe we can end this cycle.
"On the other hand you learn so much in difficult times and know when you get out of this you can use it in a great way. I've learned so much in the last four months."
Van Nistelrooy is always measured in his responses and his mood has remained balanced, despite Leicester's awful run.
That was why there was surprise at his reaction to the Newcastle defeat where he swerved questions on his future and was noticeably upset on Monday night.
He clarified the loss hurt him and he just needed to sleep on it before being refreshed but the run of results finally took a toll.
Defeat at Brighton will push Leicester closer to the inevitable instant return to the Championship and while Van Nistelrooy has vowed not to walk away, there are too many unanswered questions over the club's direction.
