Jibrin‘It’s too important’ – Gary Rowett has say on Leicester City job future
The new manager has been handed a contract for the upcoming 14 fixtures until the conclusion of the season and no assurances have been given as to what transpires if he preserves City’s status.
Leicester City’s Championship standing is too significant for new manager Gary Rowett to contemplate his personal future.
Rowett makes his touchline debut as City boss on Saturday lunchtime when he guides his new squad to one of his former clubs Stoke.
It’s the first of 14 games that Rowett is contracted to City for, with the 51-year-old given only a deal until the end of the season. What happens beyond that is of no concern to Rowett right now, he insists.
City are in the relegation zone on a run of one point from their last available 18. That’s the priority right now and nothing else is worth considering until safety is secured.
“I’ll be honest with you, it’s not on my mind. It’s not in my thoughts,” Rowett said when asked if he’d want to stay beyond this season.
“It’s 14 games. If we win lots of those and after 14 games I walk away, I’ll be happy. Whatever happens after that is genuinely not in my mind because it’s too important.
“This is the role. Nothing’s been promised to me. That’s the role I’ve taken on. I’ll give everything I’ve got to try and be as successful as I can.”
City may be heading to the Bet365 Stadium without a victory in six Championship matches, but that’s also true for the Potters, who have drawn three and lost three.
While Stoke possess the joint-best defence in the division, goals have been difficult to come by, with just six scored in their last 11 outings.
That should enhance City’s prospects of ending their 26-match sequence without a clean sheet in the Championship.
Following Blackburn’s last-gasp triumph over Preston on Friday night, City need to beat Stoke and hope that West Brom fail to overcome Coventry at the Hawthorns in order for Rowett’s side to escape the bottom three.
Jibrin
