Khun Top addresses Leicester fans and signals changes

Jon Rudkin was brought to Leicester City by the Srivaddhanaprabha family, who have owned the Foxes since 2010

Leicester City are to create a new role of technical director as part of a restructure that is mooted to see Jon Rudkin's job as director of football changed.

Already an interim managing director has been appointed, with business strategist Kamonthip Netthanomsak brought in to "focus" on both operational and commercial areas of the club "during a period of executive transition".

Fresh footballing expertise is being sought by a club that has been relegated from the Premier League twice in three years, with the search for a technical director now underway.

The planned change is seen as as moving Rudkin "upstairs", although in an interview posted on the club's website, chairman and owner Khun Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha did not go into detail.

But he did say the club "needs time to rebuild everything".

"Maybe some fans are not happy with the answer that I say, but it's realistic," Khun Top said.

"It will take effort and time. I will not let this situation go on and on."

The shake up comes just weeks after Khun Top stepped in to become interim chief executive following the departure of Susan Whelan, who had been with the club for 15 years.

Rudkin has been with the Foxes for more than a decade and helped bring about unprecedented success to a club that won a previously unfathomable Premier League title in 2016.

As well as the English crown, Leicester have won the FA Cup, collected the Community Shield and reached the knockout stages of the Champions League and Europa League.

Two Premier League relegations in three seasons, as well as the club's continuing off-field legal battle to avoid a points penalty for alleged breaches of spending rules in recent years, has strained the relationship between the club's hierarchy and its supporters.

Frustration appeared to hit a new low at Norwich last week, with a small group of fans called out by fellow supporters and the club for threatening chants being aimed at Rudkin.

The victory at Carrow Road was Leicester's first in six games, and just their second in 11 matches dating back to August which leaves them 12th in the Championship table.

The position of manager Martin Cifuentes, who has also been subject to criticism from fans following the Foxes' underwhelming start, is thought to be stable and not under any immediate threat.

Khun Top and others have been criticised for their lack of communication with fans during turbulent times, though this reshuffle and the in-house interview posted on the club website is a way in which the Foxes are attempting to "reconnect" with supporters.

Khun Top attended an online meeting with the club's fan advisory board following his recorded interview in Bangkok earlier this month, and Netthanomsak is due to meet with the group on the owner's behalf next week.

"Maybe it's my fault, I used to talk to the fans and the media but I have responsibilities here in Thailand a lot," he added.

"I want to get closer, I want to get more information to the fans."