Your views: 'A poisoned chalice' - Foxes problems run deeper than Cifuentes

The call went out for Leicester City supporters to share their thoughts on the future of under-pressure manager Marti Cifuentes after Saturday's defeat by Sheffield United.

The responses were numerous and opinions were split, as plenty of fans see issues that the Foxes are facing now - from the legal battle over alleged spending rule breaches, and the make-up of the squad - to be beyond the Spaniard's control.

Here is a selection of what they had to say...

Ross: The problems go far deeper than Cifuentes. There are structural and management problems. The club can't attract the top talent due to looming financial and points penalties. We've been through multiple managers in the past year and nothing has changed. What will another sacking and payout achieve other than put us even further into the hole financially and leadership wise. Management is the problem, some of the players are the problem, yes, the manager is a problem, but what other options do we have right now?

Stephen: First-half performance was shocking, makes me wonder what they do on the training ground every week? They looked like they've never played as a team. Second half was better but it couldn't be any worse. The manager just rolls out the same old 'not acceptable at this level' etc. Just as Brendan Rogers did. I hope the chairman has learnt from that and doesn't leave it too late for someone new to try and turn things around. A recognised goalscorer is a must in January.

Russell: The lesson of the past four years of sacking managers is that it does not change anything. As a club we need to focus on weeding out the rest of the overpaid players and rebuilding from the bottom up. We need to have enough points to stay in this league with or without a points deduction, and plan for a promotion push in at least two years' time. Anything else is totally unrealistic.

Andrew: It's a poison chalice; the result of a number of years of decline and failure to address issues from 'Top' down. Big changes needed across many levels but I fear there isn't the ruthless business streak in the hierarchy to push the big red button…

Joe: I'm not saying he's doing great but he's taken over a team which has disillusioned fans, an unbalanced squad which completely lacks in confidence, and a board that has consistently made mistakes for around five years, and the cherry on top, no funds to make any meaningful changes. I'd rather we keep him and spend money on the squad rather than compensation on another manager.

Ben: Marti has to go. One dimensional, backwards, boring football. Why does every manager have to play tiki-taka football. You're not Pep. We need a forward-thinking manager with fresh and different ideas. Also someone to get at these players as they're low on confidence.

Dan: Marti inherited a squad short of leaders and short of quality. Unfortunately, his coaching seems to have taken us backwards. Relying on speculative shots. Not creating good chances. Shambolic defending. We are sleepwalking into a relegation dogfight. Thanks for the initial hope, time to move on.

Keith: I have been following the fortunes of LCFC since 1949 but have never seen such an abject performance as in the first half on Saturday. It was clear that Sheffield United were up to the challenge, but we were not. That is dependent on the motivation of the team from the outset, and so it is down to the manager. Either that, or the players are not listening, or not pulling their weight individually. They are paid a huge amount after all. Perhaps too much!

Damien: We need to look at the players first then assess the manager .... fantastic training facilities seems to be delivering a holiday camp mentality which is leading to no fight or bite on game days. We need a clear-out and a change of culture. We need to start with our defence! Then our defensive midfield. Then our lack of a number 9. Most of these issues have been present since Brendan Rodgers ... assess Marti when everything else is fixed.

Will: There are bigger problems at this club than the manager. At least with Marti we have someone who wants to be here - he paid his way to come and his engagement has been spot on so far. The board and players have contributed to our current standing too - sacking the manager doesn't change that.

Kevin: I do sympathise with Cifuentes - half a pre-season, no money. Inherited a mediocre squad with low morale, many of which clearly don't want to be here. I fear the situation won't improve until the end of the season. Get rid of those whose contracts have expired (silly wages) and hopefully that will fund a few solid signings. Plus the promising youngsters we do have will be another year older and closer to being ready. I just hope with a deduction looming we're still in the Championship, I am confident we will be.

John: Cifuentes inherited a squad full of Premier League players. He is clearly out of his depth. Poor selections and a team that looks disinterested and unmotivated on the pitch. That's down to the manager and he has to go!

Paul: Who would you replace him with? No-one would want the job. No money available. Points deduction coming soon. Get rid of players that don't want to be here.

Tugger: 16th approaching Xmas for a team relegated from the Premiership in the previous season is unacceptable. There doesn't appear to be a system or any cohesion between the players. We are playing 'back' football and there is no penetration, often losing the ball out wide. I'm one for sticking with managers but we need a change I'm afraid. I can only see us finishing above the relegation zone at this stage, which is unacceptable for a club of our size.

Tony: You cannot blame the manager in my opinion. He was dealt a duff hand when he took over. Took over far too late pre-season. The players are clearly not interested. Get rid of the deadwood. And there's an awful lot of it. A majority of the team are not fit to wear the shirt. Having said that, the board need sorting out. Big style. We are falling apart at the seams.

Peter: As starts go, the game on Saturday was probably the worst I can remember in 50 years of watching LCFC and sums up the lack of direction and muddled thinking of the club since the departure of Enzo Maresca. I want Cifuentes to succeed rather than see him dismissed as I think that would be a backward step, although he needs to stop picking players that simply don't want to be at the club. The apathy they show is clear for all to see. We spent vast sums of money building a training centre to attract the best young talent, start using some of that talent now. The fans will back them, but they won't keep backing the players that obviously don't care.

Melvyn: Mismanagement at board level. Poor investment in second-rate journeymen on overlong contracts that under perform. Failure to sell players approaching the end of contracts ... the list is endless. Time for a root-and-branch change.

Toby: He obviously can't stay, but the problem isn't JUST the manager. Our problems involve the board, the staff and, most importantly, the players. We are in a hole that only time will repair, and these players have way too much complacency and ego to listen to any manager. The best a new manager can do is keep us in the Championship, but if we want to even think about pushing further, we need a much bigger change.

Lindsay: We should have got Chris Wilder when we were recruiting our new manager. He is a more proven manager and has turned around Sheffield United in a short time.

Colin: Cifuentes must be backed and I mean backed by the board, squad and fans at least for another 12 months. The club has been in demise for several years, everyone needs to recognise that it will take time for a real and lasting change to take place.

Nigel: Sacking the manager will achieve nothing. We've already sacked two managers and where has that got us? Unfortunately, the players are obviously mentally fragile. I don't think the fans are helping, it's alright getting behind the team as they did in the second half against Sheffield United, but they don't need boos for a perfectly reasonable back pass as has been happening recently. Some fans have short memories. As for criticising Top, I can't believe some people. It's not so long ago we were going bust, not to mention all the money put into the community.

Steve: Through incompetence and mismanagement, including disastrous signings/contracts, we've gone from pushing for the Champions League to fighting relegation in the Championship in just five years. The manager's got an almost impossible job, but this squad should still be performing better than it is. We don't need a new manager — we need new owners.