JibrinAndy King responds to Leicester City manager questions as Blackburn result deepens crisis
The interim boss talks about the club’s search for a new manager and the drop into the bottom three after witnessing his side’s FA Cup exit at Southampton
Leicester City’s predicament worsened on Saturday as they slid into the Championship’s bottom three, with no replacement manager on the horizon.
While City were eliminated from the FA Cup by Southampton, they suffered the additional setback of Blackburn claiming victory at QPR, leaving them 22nd in the Championship standings.
It was a first triumph for new Rovers manager Michael O’Neill, making Leicester the only club in the division without a manager.
It has been 20 days since Marti Cifuentes was dismissed, during which interim boss Andy King has overseen three league defeats and an extra-time cup exit. He remains uninformed about the managerial search.
When asked if there was any update, he replied: “Nope. I’m sorry to keep letting you guys down about that. It’s not a question for me. I can’t answer you on that.”
On whether there had been any clarification about the delay in appointing a new boss, King explained: “No, nothing like that. My remit was to take the team while they’re looking for a new manager. I’m sure they’re looking for someone and they’ve been speaking to people.
“I’ve not had time to be searching for answers. My sole focus has been on trying to get the team prepared, trying to get the team doing the right things, and trying to get us climbing up the table.”
King confirmed that at no stage has the club requested him to assume the role for the remainder of the season.
He added: “We’re all on the same page in terms of I’m doing it while they’re looking for a new manager.
“We’d have rather they (Blackburn) lost but we can’t control what other teams are doing. We’ve got to make sure we’re better than three other teams come the end of the season and that’s the sole goal for us moving forward.”
City are currently one point from safety, though that could rise to two before they face Stoke next weekend if Portsmouth achieve a midweek result against Charlton.
“It doesn’t change how I feel about it,” King said on seeing City fall into the relegation zone. “I’ve been very clear with the players, with the club, with you guys. We’ve got 14 games left to make sure we’re above that line. It doesn’t really change it.
Finally addressing the key question that has captured fan attention, King reiterated: “I’ve said to you before, I don’t want the job, I’m not going for the job. I’m just doing it while they search for someone more permanent.”
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