JibrinGary Rowett discusses Leicester City future with manager content to ‘walk off into the sunset’
Gary Rowett is only contracted at the King Power Stadium until the end of the campaign but there is a growing sense among the supporters that it would be beneficial to retain his services next season.
Gary Rowett would be content to “walk off into the sunset” with Leicester City’s Championship status secured and not continue as the club’s manager beyond this season.
Rowett guides City into his sixth match in charge against QPR on Saturday, aiming to build on his first victory in midweek with another three points, and another step closer to safety.
While he has claimed just one win in his five games at the helm, fans have quickly warmed to the 52-year-old, and there are increasing discussions among supporters regarding his future after this season.
Rowett is only contracted until the end of the campaign and stated that any talks about a new deal will not happen until after the final fixture has been completed.
But he expressed that he would be content if his tenure at the King Power Stadium concluded in May with the target accomplished.
“I haven’t looked at the long-term perspective,” Rowett told the Leicester Mercury. “My job is to achieve what we want to achieve, to feel proud of hopefully changing the direction of a season, hopefully making the fans feel proud of their team again, and allowing the players to be part of that as well.
“Tuesday night, everyone wants more of those evenings. That’s why we’re all in the game. I think we sometimes forget that, when we’re in the job and it feels like a grind. But I’ll never forget that privilege of standing on the side of a pitch.
“I’m not looking at anything selfishly, what it means for me in the long term. I’m here until the end of the season as far as I’m concerned.
“If I do the job and I’m sat on a beach somewhere two weeks after the season’s finished and I can feel good about it, with a nice glass of wine, then I’ll be a happy man.”
When it was put to Rowett that an increasing number of supporters are hoping he remains in the hotseat, he said: “That’s a nice thing, I’ll never devalue that. But I also think when you haven’t won games very often, it’s also quite easy to win a game of football and everyone starts talking about those things.
“I just don’t want to lose our focus in any way, shape or form. I want us to be focused on what we need to do. Any of those conversations, should they ever take place, can take place long after the season’s finished.
“I think it’s important to build a connection with the fans, I think it’s important for fans to see that desire on the side of a pitch, they see the players showing that desire.
“We’ll give everything every hour that we can, every detail that we can find. I can’t guarantee success but I’ll guarantee we’ll do everything we can to try to achieve it.
“I appreciate their support so far. It’s nice that they’re talking about it in that way, but from a personal perspective, the end of the season is fine with me, and I can walk off into the sunset.”
City begin the weekend outside the relegation zone, but only above 22nd-placed Oxford on goal difference.
While City host a QPR side on a run of four consecutive defeats, Oxford entertain Charlton, West Brom welcome Hull to the Hawthorns, and Blackburn travel to Millwall. Portsmouth play Derby on Monday.
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