Leicester City chairman Mandaric pleads with fans to back manager Sousa
Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric has made an impassioned plea to the supporters not to turn on manager Paulo Sousa and his players.
Mandaric told the Mercury he likened the current situation to when City were relegated to League One for the first time in the club's history and his call for unity then was heard by the Blue Army.
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Milan Mandaric
Mandaric, below, urged supporters not to believe press speculation that Sousa is on borrowed time, but some fans think otherwise after Tuesday's defeat at Norwich – the team's third successive loss.
There were even reports on Tuesday that former City boss Martin O'Neill was being lined up as a successor, but Mandaric said Sousa had the full support of himself and City's new owners, Aiyawatt and Vichai Raksriaksorn.
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"Things go wrong but we can't turn things upside down now, for God's sakes," said Mandaric. "We can't turn around now and say Paulo needs to go! Now is the time for us to show how strong we are together, how united we are behind our manager and give him a chance to get the results.
"I would like to remind everyone what happened two years ago when we had a horrible time going down. At that time I called on everyone to be united and energise ourselves, get behind the new manager and the team, and give him time to show what he could do.
"We had gone down but all the supporters gave undivided support to me, the manager and the team at that time. They didn't know anything about Nigel Pearson at that time, but at the end of the season we put smiles back on their faces.
"I am asking the same again. It is a difficult time, but it is time to be united and not to listen to speculation in some parts of the media. Get behind the manager and give him support. I believe in the manager and the team and we need to give them our support. It is as simple as that. As far as I am concerned I told him on behalf of the owners and myself there is tremendous support for him overall and we all have to pitch in and do the same."
Mandaric said Sousa was just as upset as the supporters following last Friday's 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth, but he urged the fans not to heap more pressure on the manager.
"He is not a happy man and the players are not happy, the supporters are not happy. All of us are not happy," said Mandaric. "But it was just a week ago that we played Portsmouth and we demonstrated our capability.
"Prior to that we beat Cardiff with a good performance. It was not too long ago and we shouldn't forget that, just because of one disastrous game.
"I have met with Paulo and he is unhappy. He has heard the rumours and he knows that it was a game that no one can be proud of, but you have to support the manager.
"What about me when we went down? I spent millions of pounds to turn us around to support the manager.
"I didn't leave the team down and I ask the supporters not to desert the team, let's be united. That is what you have to do in difficult times, and this is a difficult time.''
"We are trying to find the winning formula and, while we are doing this, they need support. It is not easy. We have a really good owner and I have more desire to give support when the results are less successful.
"I will do everything I can to influence things one way or another so that we can turn things around, and give our supporters a winning club."
Mandaric may have sold the club to the Asia Football Investments consortium, but he feels he still has a vital role to play as chairman during a difficult period.
He also urged people not to listen to reports that he is about to take over at Portsmouth again.
"I do feel there is more importance on me to help Paulo," he said. "I am the chairman and I remain in the firing line. I never run away from that. I need to be there and I don't hide.
"I am going to stand behind Paulo and the players and I ask the supporters the same thing.
"The worst thing now would be to go against Paulo and take away his energy. We are all human and he needs support and the players need the support.
"This is the worst time, when you see the speculation from some people about his job, and the speculation about Portsmouth as well. You can't listen to those things.
"The facts are we are having difficulties at the moment, but we will come out of these difficulties.
"We have experienced them before but, unfortunately, that is football for you. We will sort things out, as we have always done before.
"Look at how many times this season we have had a clear penalty not given, or a goal disallowed, how many times we have been unlucky. But we can't dwell on that, we need to win the games."
Comments
by keith, Wanganui, New Zealand.
Friday, October 01 2010, 6:10AM
“I must say being a long time supporter of Paulo, I am loosing confidence in his ability to even select a team, let alone a winning one.
Mandy's had a guts full and wants out. Don't say I blame him as we are playing no better footy as a conference team. No disrespect meant with the comment.
I am wondering if the ink is dry on the Asia syndicate's cheque they gave to Mandy. Who knows there may be a performance clause in the agreement.
Oh well we will have to see what the weekend brings. I think another defeat will just about drive the last nail into Paulo's coffin. Shame really as his brand of footy is great to watch. (if we are winning)
I really feel sorry for the lads that worked their butts of over the last couple of years to get us out of the third Div, and then against all odds into the play-off's.
You travelling fans want to be rewarded also as it must cost a fair bit of dough to follow the City around.
Come what may we are all City supporters, and would follow our club to the end of the Earth.
((except Fred Sid, Roll, Gareth and the rest of his yobo's))
Here's hoping for good times ahead with or without Paulo.
Up the City!!”
by chappy, plymouth
Thursday, September 30 2010, 11:08PM
“Rumour has it we are recalling Kermo!!!
NOT !!!!!!!!!!!!”
by mark, Coalville
Thursday, September 30 2010, 5:28PM
“And,MM,BTW, the fans backed Pearson all the way, all the way to the play offs and he was only two or three players short of getting us into the premiership this term. How did those players feel when Sousa was invited to the Cardiff game by MM.”
by foxofthenorth, Northwest
Thursday, September 30 2010, 5:00PM
“Mandaric came to LCFC to make money & he just doesn't want to lose any more. His managerial decisions have been nothing short of lamentable.”
by Mike, Suffering in Glenfield.
Thursday, September 30 2010, 3:01PM
“TOSH is right, Mr. Leicester.
(Hey - isn't that my favourite word?)
PS. Matt, downstairs - You've got it absolutely SPOT-ON, but beware: you'll be being accused of being me in disguise!”
by Mr. Leicester, Leicester
Thursday, September 30 2010, 2:26PM
“Mandaric has got some nerve. First he puts us in this mess and then he says this load of tosh. All Mandaric is out to do is to make money and he always has been since day one. I always feared he would screw us over before leaving and unfortunately my fear has been proved right.
'It's all in the eyes chico. They never lie.'”
by Dell Elliott, loiughborough
Thursday, September 30 2010, 1:27PM
“...and we dont have any part to play in this as fans? When Mandaric thought about employing Warnock,this and other sites were full of people slagging him off because he said something unpleasent about us,diddums diddums.He knows exactly what this division is about.No slackers in any of his teams.”
by Dean Feather, Worcestershire
Thursday, September 30 2010, 11:52AM
“"Things go wrong but we can't turn things upside down now, for God's sakes,"
Maybe he should have thought about that before he forced NP out of the door.
Let's face it Mandaric is a businessman and he's in it for the money. He bought Portsmouth for a knock down price when in administration and sold them for a profit. he then bough us when in Administration and sold us for a profit. He's now looking at Portsmouth again because, surprise, surprise they are in administration and he's looking to make more money.
Maybe he was worried that NP would get us back into the Premier League when he would have to pay money to those that really saved LCFC.
Don't turn on the players, support them. even those that you think shouldn't be in the side. If they give 100% you can ask for no more. However, as for Messrs Sousa and Mandaric ........ that's up to you.”
by mark, Coalville
Thursday, September 30 2010, 11:44AM
“Matt sums it up pretty much as I feel. Mandric treated Pearson appallingly before he hired Sousa. Mandric may have cash but he doesn't know how to manage a football club. Time to go and take Sousa with you.”
by Steve Morris, Cradley Heath
Thursday, September 30 2010, 10:57AM
“Agree with the previous poster. I am a usually patient person but I have had my fill with Leicester at the moment!
The fans were remarkably patient as that clown Holloway took us to League One. I for one did not really believe Leicester could be relegated to the third tier of English football but I was proven to be very wrong.
Wake up and smell the coffee Mandaric, Sousa does not have the ability to get us out of the mess you and he created. He has a dogmatic belief in continental football and I for one do not believe this will get us away from the foot of the table. We need to be organised, have spirit and fight, things Sousa seems to be lacking.
We will not go down so easily this time Mr Mandaric. I suggest you take a long, hard look at Sousa, yourself and why you allowed/forced Nigel Pearson to leave!”