Leicester City have unveiled former Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes as their next boss - but has the appointment come too late?
Has the timing of his arrival got you feeling nervous for the new season, Foxes fans?
Is Cifuentes the man you wanted when former boss Ruud van Nistelrooy departed?
What do you expect from the Spaniard as you look to return to the top flight?
Jack Rafferty
BBC Radio Leicester reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesNearly three months after relegation was confirmed and three weeks since Ruud van Nistelrooy eventually left the club, Leicester City finally have their man.
Marti Cifuentes arrives at King Power Stadium with plenty of work to do and not too long to get it done.
In terms of the football, I'm told we can expect something similar to the style implemented by Enzo Maresca during his time at the club, with possession a key focus.
That may have frustrated some of the Foxes fans, but we know it's a way of playing admired by the players who were part of the 2023-24 Championship winning team.
But with the squad off to Austria this week and the start of the new season less than four weeks away, time is already against Cifuentes to get his ideas across and his players ready. He also needs to target new recruits with not much money to play with.
The fans would have wanted this appointment confirmed much, much earlier. But hopefully now it's finally done, it's one they can get behind.
It's Nearly Marti Time
"It's going on and on and on, just get it done!"
Jack Rafferty is joined by former Foxes striker Steve Howard to discuss Leicester City's pre-season as they await the appointment of new manager.
It's looking likely their new boss could be former Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes but, for now, the wait continues.
As to why the appointment is taking so long, Howard believes it's because the Foxes initial plans didn't pan out as they'd hoped.
"I think they had a target in mind and they couldn't get him," Howard told the When You're Smiling podcast.
"I think they went down the list and obviously Cifuentes is there. I quite like him as a manager.
"I just hope for all the fans and all the team and all the club as whole that he's there for when they go to the pre-season training camp in Austria."
Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.
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3rd: Manchester City - £165.5m
4th: Chelsea - £163.7m
5th: Newcastle United - £160.2m
6th: Aston Villa - £159.3m
7th: Nottingham Forest - £152.5m
8th: Brighton - £145.1m
9th: Bournemouth - £143.4m
10th: Brentford - £138.9m
11th: Fulham - £135.5m
12th: Crystal Palace - £136.1m
13th: Everton - £131.8m
14th: West Ham - £130.9m
15th: Manchester United - £136.2m
16th: Wolves - £123.1m
17th: Tottenham - £127.8m
18th: Leicester - £116.9m
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Leicester's Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss, 21, is wanted by Sunderland, though West Ham and Monaco are also keen on the former Genk playmaker. (L'Equipe - in French, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Cifuentes "edging closer" to Leicester job
"In terms of Cifuentes' record with QPR, he did well keeping them in the division for two seasons but it'll be a different task. Leicester are further along than QPR.
"You can only get behind the appointment but to be honest, it needed to come earlier."
With former Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes looking like he could be the man to take over at King Power Stadium, the When You're Smiling team discuss what his appointment could mean for Leicester City.
One impact of hiring Cifuentes could be a change of style that would see the Foxes return to the more aggressive approach that led to them winning the Championship title under Enzo Maresca in 2024.
"Do you want to be pragmatic or do you want to take the bull by the horns and go that Maresca style where you are dominating possession, pressing aggressively," said former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt.
"They've probably looked at it and thought we want to go back to that, based on the two previous appointments.
"They've got a core of Maresca-type players as well that are used to playing that style and then you add that freshness and spark amongst it, it can only be positive."
Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.
Leicester City have made a verbal agreement with former Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes to become their new head coach, with the 43-year-old Spaniard reportedly contributing to his own compensation package with the Hoops. (TalkSport), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.
Former Leicester city striker Matt Piper is scathing in his criticism of the club's search for a new boss as BBC East Midlands Today looks ahead to the upcoming season.
The candidates for the top job at the King Power Stadium are pored over, with fans sharing their thoughts, while BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin also shares his views on how the side is shaping up after the exit of boss Ruud van Nistelrooy and departure of club legend Jamie Vardy.
More Managerial Candidates Emerge
"The one thing that hasn't changed is the chaos in the situation."
Could Leicester's new man in charge be former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder? Sheffield Wednesday head coach Danny Rohl? Former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche? Or could they look at ex-Wolves boss Gary O'Neil?
The When You're Smiling team take a look at the candidates for Leicester City's vacant managerial role, but former Foxes winger Matt Piper isn't feeling all that enamoured.
"Flip-flopping around from different managers, different journeymen, just reeks of what we've all been pointing fingers at the club for," Piper said.
"It all seems a little bit unprofessional, not well planned out and scraping the barrel.
"No candidates really on that list that you're really excited about or I'm certainly not anyway."
Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.
Pre-Season Preparations
"I'm a bit puzzled as to why they haven't sorted this because they've had time."
The preseason action begins for Leicester City when they host Peterborough United on Saturday, but without a permanent manager, how much can fans take from the match as a glimpse into the future?
The Foxes will be under the guidance of former midfielder Andy King for the game, but former City striker Steve Howard does not see the 36-year-old being an on-going solution.
"I think it's a little bit too early for him," Howard told the When You're Smiling podcast.
"I think he'd be a really good manager further down the line but with a club like Leicester, you want them to bounce straight back and that's the whole aim.
"You need an experienced guy in there, but quickly."
Howard said urgency is key, or else Leicester risk going into the new season underprepared.
"If someone said to you, how does Leicester play, you'd say I don't really know," he added.
"I think a manager is going to come in, especially in preseason, and say this is the way I play, this is my idea, this is the identity I want Leicester City to have.
"So the longer this drags on, the worse it's going to be."
Listen to the full episode and more on BBC Sounds.
Leicester City full-back Victor Kristiansen looks certain to be heading for the exit door with Nottingham Forest the latest club to be showing an interest in the Danish international. (Leicester Mercury), external
Want more transfer gossip from the EFL? Take a look at Thursday's gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked you what you thought of Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure from Leicester City.
Here's what you had to say:
RJ: I feel we need somebody that won't shy away from difficult decisions, somebody that has a track record of being able to motivate, and sort out the deadwood. I think Sean Dyche is probably the best person. It saddens me to see the club in this state.
Nick: Ruud had to go, with his record. Get rid of the deadwood. Get Harry Winks back in midfield and give Liam Rosenior, a bright young coach to bring on all our very talented youngsters.
Chris: Right decision, awful timing. I suspect there have been negotiations with Ruud (this is "mutual consent", not an actual sacking) to reduce his pay-off and an agreement has just been reached. Otherwise the timing makes absolutely no sense. And please not Sean Dyche. My patience with and interest in the club I've supported for over 30 years is wearing very thin and that might be the straw which breaks this particular camel's back...
Chris in North Wales: It's strange why it has taken so long when everyone knew he wasn't the right man to bring us back up. You know what you are getting with Sean Dyche, the style won't please everyone but he has a good track record. The question is, how much money will he be have to play with, given PSR?
Neil: I think the club have taken far too long and treated Ruud really badly. I fear for the future with the news of King Powers financial troubles
Gary: The most worrying aspect in the last couple of years at Leicester City I feel is the complete disconnection with the supporters. Never has there been clarity or an explanation into the club's plans or directions. Nobody has come forward, held their hands up and accepted responsibility for this dire downturn in the club's fortunes. There has been no meetings, fan forums or explanation into the status quo. We are at the same point as 12 months ago, no manager with a possible points deduction looming. The club (or someone) needs to take control of the situation quickly; or we'll be sleepwalking down to League One.
Jim: Well, there you go! Those in charge have treated RVN shamefully. Could anyone have gotten any better from the players put together for the season. I doubt it. He should have been given 20 more games. Well he is better off without the job! Who next? Nigel Pearson; if he wants the job. Proven winner!
Steve: The people who really need to be sacked are still running the football club, and with King Power going bust and financial rules penalty points looming, our darkest days will soon be upon us. What a mess!
Ian: Too little, too late.. you could not write this mess in modern history. It's like taking big risks before preparing for a new season in one of the most competitive season in the Championship. Almost like leaving it last minute to climb Kilimanjaro or Everest. You need the right leader to manage a team to climb that mountain day by day. The club is like an oxygen tank supporting this group every step and like any Hollywood story the mad expedition boss in charge taking huge risks. Will we achieve that goal getting back to the Prem or are we doomed to fail at the first attempt? "Top of the world" or flop again!
Who could be Ruud's replacement?
"It needed a fresh start, a total reset I would call it.
"Until something changes higher up, I can't see a new direction."
The inevitable departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy from Leicester City was finally confirmed on Friday with many still questioning the timing and behaviour around the decision.
BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin and former Foxes winger Matt Piper discuss Van Nistelrooy's dismissal, the club's hierarchy and the Dutchman's potential replacements ahead of the new season.
Sheffield Wednesday could face a mass player departure if wages are not paid on Monday, with the side already subject to a three-window fee restriction starting this summer.
The Owls could also be losing German boss Danny Rohl, 36, who is being linked to the vacant managerial role at newly relegated Leicester City. (Sky Sports), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Van Nistelrooy Leaves Leicester City
"The timing seems so bizarre but saying that, nothing should surprise me now."
Ruud van Nistelrooy's departure from Leicester City did not come as a surprise for many after a poor tenure in the Premier League. But the timing of it? That's caused a stir.
The When You're Smiling podcast team break down the possibilities for why the announcement has taken several weeks and the implications for Leicester in the upcoming season.
"A little bit surprised in terms of the actual timing of it. With the financial regulations, I thought it may have been beyond June into July," former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt said.
"Leicester have been sealed to their fate for nine weeks now and there's been no real news and you're thinking 'is Ruud going to stay or not?'.
"It seems to me like someone has said 'we've got the players back in for pre-season on Monday, by the way we've still got Ruud in charge, can someone get rid of him?'"
Listen to the full reaction and more on BBC Sounds.
Owynn Palmer-Atkin
BBC Radio Leicester reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesThe agreement between Leicester City and Ruud van Nistelrooy to terminate his deal at the club should not come as a surprise to many.
This always felt like a case of when, not if.
Relegation from the Premier League, five wins from 27 games in all competitions and record runs without a goal at home - it doesn't scream success for the Dutchman.
However, the timing and behaviour around the decision have to be questioned at the very highest level.
It's been over a month since the end of the season and double that since relegation back to the Championship was confirmed. In every press conference, Van Nistelrooy told the media that no conversations about his future had started. I think he knew his fate.
But that does not make it acceptable.
Fans have a right to question the timing, too. Leicester City are clearly grappling with financial issues; they may well have been waiting for the new Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) financial year on July 1.
But the agreement underpinning this agreement can always have a date in July. Which begs the question, why was this decision not made earlier? The fans deserve an explanation for that.
This is another critical moment for the club. The search for a fourth manager in 12 months, the pre-season beginning on Monday and the Championship opener six weeks from this weekend.
They have to get the next appointment right.
Amid rumours Sean Dyche might move to the King Power, Leicester are plotting a move to sign Everton defender Michael Keane on a free transfer when his contract expires later this month. (Football Insider, external)
Want more EFL transfer rumours? Check out Friday's full gossip column
