Leicester on the brink after desperate season

It is a matter of when and not if Leicester return to the Championship after a season which has lurched from crisis to desperation.

Eight straight defeats without scoring, no home league goals since 8 December and 15 points adrift of safety with 21 left available.

Monday's 3-0 defeat by Newcastle leaves them staring at the drop, which could come as early as 20 April when they host leaders Liverpool.

Even with seven games left the post mortem of the season can already start, with Ruud van Nistelrooy's future the first topic on the agenda.

He swerved questions about it after the game, only saying: "The most important thing is the club and these players, that's what I would say for now."

The Dutchman's honesty had been welcomed by the squad and his methods, along with assistant Brian Barry-Murphy, were refreshing, but it has not worked.

After a season at PSV and four games as Manchester United caretaker, Van Nistelrooy may have put the time in at youth level and as a national coach with the Netherlands but he has been unable to prove himself at Leicester.

The Foxes gambled having fired Steve Cooper when they were 16th in the table in November, the former manager's reputation remaining intact as Leicester were far more competitive under him.

Van Nistelrooy is fortunate the fans have slipped into apathy, feeling disconnected with a club where the hierarchy rarely speaks to them.

Supporters are so resigned they have not had the energy to turn on him, instead focusing their attention on director of football Jon Rudkin.

They view him as central to the decline of the club and, after what will be a damaging relegation, change looks to be needed at King Power Stadium.