Leicestershire

Leicester City's issues go beyond just the manager, according to former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt.

The Championship club have sacked boss Marti Cifuentes after only six months in charge and with the team 14th in the table.

"The bigger issue is, is it a club problem, not just a manager problem?" Fryatt told BBC Radio Leicester's podcast 'When You're Smiling.'

"You've had three managers in a year who've been sacked - everyone has to take accountability for it."

Listen to 'When You're Smiling' and more Leicester City content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Shutterstock

Leicester City have sacked manager Marti Cifuentes after only six months in charge.

The Foxes are 14th in the Championship and six points short of the play-off places.

But are the club right to have parted company with Cifuentes and who should they replace him with?

Leicester fans can have their say here - check back on this page on Monday to see some of the responses.

Naz Premji
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Rex Features

The Foxes put in an abject performance against Oxford United on Saturday and were deservedly beaten 2-1 in a game which saw new U's boss Matt Bloomfield get his first win since taking over at the Kassam Stadium.

Marti Cifuentes' side lacked ideas and there was not much determination to get back into the game when they went 2-0 down.

A large number of the Leicester fans were heading to the exits when Mark Harris scored the visitors' second goal.

Remember, Leicester are waiting on a verdict on a points deduction for their previous financial issues and rules that were allegedly broken during the past few seasons.

They could get anything from six to 10 points taken off them and, if it's the latter, they will be in trouble and in a real relegation fight.

Add in the fact they are unlikely to bring in any new faces in January, and there is a real recipe for trouble brewing at the King Power Stadium.

In fact, former Foxes striker Matty Fryatt said on BBC Radio Leicester that the side look like they are sleepwalking into a relegation position.

Worrying times in the East Midlands.

Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes said his side have to be "better" and "look at themselves" following the chastening defeat at home against lowly Oxford United.

"We struggled after going 1-0 down we did not move the ball quickly enough," Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester.

"We need to look at ourselves. There are many things we need to do much better.

"The Championship is a tough league. We need to regroup and understand the picture and move in the right direction. We need to create more.

"The expectation from ourselves is that we want to win every game. I understand it's frustrating.

"It doesn't matter what the score is. I want the fans to go home proud. I know they probably didn't feel that way."

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Image source, Shutterstock

Leicester City midfielder Jordan James will be out for at least month after suffering a hamstring injury in their midweek draw at Wrexham.

The Wales international has scored four times in his last six games for the Foxes and nine goals overall this season.

He had to go off after 41 minutes at the Racecourse Ground and Leicester have also lost Oliver Skipp for Saturday's home game against Oxford United following a clash of heads.

"Unfortunately, neither of them will be available for the next game," head coach Marti Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester.

"JJ suffered a hamstring injury that will take him out for some weeks and the medical team is working with Skippy but he will definitely not be ready for this game.

"They are both doing really well and when we analyse the second-half performance (at Wrexham), that was definitely a big part of it, the fact that we lose two important players in the midfield."

Asked whether three or four weeks was a likely period out for James, Cifuentes replied "perhaps slightly more".

Leicester are 14th in the Championship, five points adrift of the play-off places.