[JoBeck]

Here's an update on the latest Leicester City signing rumors...

Thursday, June 12

The big story today is focused on Tottenham's left-back BEN THATCHER. Leicester wanted him under O'Neill and it looks like Micky Adams has stepped in and expressed interest. Rumors range from talks to a deal already being made. I'd love this signing... definitely a step up from Alan Rogers.

Also, the word seems to be definite that PAUL BROOKER, Brighton's 26-year-old winger, is on his way to the East Midlands. Micky always rated him highly when he was in charge of the South Coast club.

Planetfootball.com reports that Leicester City and Cardiff City are both battling to sign versatile Ireland international Gary Hulse.

And finally, despite reports that Leicester had made a 250,000-pound bid for Motherwell striker and Scottish U-21 starlet Stephen Pearson, Motherwell has denied the reports.

[JoBeck]

Apparently the new hot rumors link Leicester City with HASAN SAS and KEITH GILLESPIE. The Hasan Sas rumors have died down a little in the past day since the forward signed a new contract with Galatasaray, but apparently he has a clause in his new deal which allows him to talk to other clubs. Gillespie was given a free transfer by Blackburn and apparently Birmingham City are also courting his signature.

Also, no news on a return to Leicester for Sunderland winger MATT PIPER.

[Orchid]

-I'm not suprised Hoddle is trying to get rid of Thatcher, especially all the trash talking about Glenn's ways of coaching. It's been going on for a while, but I'm happy to see that he may be close to putting on a Foxes jersey.

-As for Gillespie, this should turn out to be interesting, especially since Birmingham have expressed interest in him for a while.

[JoBeck]

Leicester City have reportedly expressed interest in Ipswich Town striker MARCUS BENT according to ITFC fanzine Those Were The Days. Apparently Micky has been inquiring about him for some time and is considering making a bid. We'll see.

As for Thatcher, he rejected City once before. I wonder if he'll have a change of heart if a bid goes through.

[JoBeck]

Planetfootball.com reports that Leicester are interested in Georgian defender ZURAN KHIZANISHVILI. The ex-Dundee defender will apparently snub Rangers and look for a move south, where the Foxes and Tottenham are interested in his services.

Also, despite earlier reports of Leicester looking at Marcus Bent, don't expect any news very soon on this. I don't think Leicester have a bid lined up right now.

Who's leaving? Apparently Stoke City are interested in MATT ELLIOTT and have a bid around 200,000 pounds. Also, Rotherham United appears ready to swoop for NICKY SUMMERBEE.

[Orchid]

Originally posted by JoBeck


Who's leaving? Apparently Stoke City are interested in MATT ELLIOTT and have a bid around 200,000 pounds. Also, Rotherham United appears ready to swoop for NICKY SUMMERBEE.

I highly doubt that Leicester are going to release him for that much, unless they're desperate to get rid of him. IMO, I think he's worth more than that

[JoBeck]

He's worth more than #200,000 but perhaps he's not worth the big paycheck he gets. I'd like him to stay along, though, I like Elliott. He always plays hard and he knows what he's doing back there. He's given the club several years of outstanding service. He doesn't have much speed now and struggled a bit in 2001-2, but he did a great job against strikers at clubs like Pompey and F*rest that were expected to run circles around him and Taggs.

Elliott does want to go into management when his career is done, so maybe Stoke are offering a player-manager role? Who knows, this is just a guess.

[18yardboxterror25]

As an Ipswich Town supporter, I know the meaning of financial difficulties in this game. I wanted to ask you Leicester fans about your situation.

Is it true that Leicester City doesn't have money for any major signings?


If so how will Micky Adams go about making that sure that Leicester doesn't go ahead and do a "West Brom" next season?

Best of luck and we'll hopefully see you in the Premiership the season after this one.

[JoBeck]

OK, here is a simple yet long explanation...

1) Re: Leicester not having enough money for major signings: All of the talk I've heard and the articles I've read from people who seem to be in the know suggest that Micky Adams has a #5-million kitty for transfers and new signings.

2) How will Micky keep Leicester up? We'll find out next season, I suppose. I complied when Micky asked all Leicester fans to "keep the faith" when City's financial debts reached the point when we all could have panicked... and I have enough faith in Micky's managerial abilities to believe that we have a better chance of surviving under him than most other managers. I think Micky would have jumped ship to another Premiership club starving for success (i.e. Villa, Leeds) if he didn't have any money to make new signings and if it were not for the #1,000,000 price tag LCFC placed on him if another club wanted to have him.

3) I think, however, that this is still part of the gamble placed by LCFC's new owners to keep the club alive. If the Foxes are relegated, I'm afraid we're back to square one--perhaps even farther behind.

Remember, when the Lineker-"led" consortium (a.k.a. New Fox PLC) took over the club, they were able to cancel some debts and create new repayment plans with creditors (the administrators and the courts were behind this--Leicester City never had any say on this). The club now has more time to repay (smaller) debts so they can afford to set aside at least a little bit of money to try to keep the team in the Premiership, where revenues are higher.

I can try to explain this in further detail another time... I'm afraid it's a bit too late at night right now to get into the intricacies of Leicester's finances... but in case anybody think Leicester "cheated" everybody, 1) these repayment plans were not devised by the club but rather the administrators, 2) Leicester no longer own the Walkers Stadium but will merely rent it from creditors for what appears to be 10 years... and 3) I can explain the rest further another time.

Anyway, good luck to the Tractor Boys (who did the job against the Foxes twice last season) as they try to get their feet back on the ground and their team back in the Premiership. LCFC's old board of directors were a bit dishonest to the fans regarding the club's finances and I'm afraid it will be worse for Ipswich fans and Sheepshanks/ITFC as they are not a public company ergo they didn't have to make the club's financial state a matter of public affairs.

...I'm just hoping that Micky can strengthen the squad this summer. Is he the next O'Neill? We'll see...

[JoBeck]

No news today on possible signings, but Swindon Town have signed Leicester's diminutive forward JON STEVENSON