Football Finance Expert Exposes Jon Rudkin’s £30m Leicester City Blunder

Leicester City are enduring a disastrous run of form, with 10 defeats in their last 11 Premier League matches.

This slump has left them in 19th place, five points adrift of safety, and their chances of survival appear increasingly slim.

Their struggles are expected to continue, with a difficult trip to West Ham United on Thursday night likely to result in another defeat.

The road ahead is even more daunting, with a brutal run of fixtures in March and April all but sealing their relegation fate.

Leicester City’s Upcoming Fixtures

Thursday, February 27 – West Ham vs Leicester (21:00)

Sunday, March 9 – Chelsea vs Leicester (15:00)

Sunday, March 16 – Leicester vs Man United (20:00)

Wednesday, April 2 – Man City vs Leicester (19:45)

Saturday, April 5 – Leicester vs Newcastle (15:00)

Saturday, April 12 – Brighton vs Leicester (15:00)

Saturday, April 19 – Leicester vs Liverpool (15:00)

Financial Problems Adding to Leicester’s Woes

Leicester’s problems extend beyond their on-field struggles. The club’s financial troubles have already landed them in hot water multiple times, and their poor management continues to raise concerns.

In 2024, Leicester were charged with breaching the Premier League’s spending rules for the three-year period leading up to the 2022/23 season.

Although they avoided punishment, speculation arose that a points deduction could follow once their 2023/24 accounts were released.

While they again escaped immediate sanctions, their financial instability remains a pressing issue.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire, speaking to The Athletic, has highlighted some of Leicester’s poor financial decisions, including budgeting for an eighth- or ninth-place finish in the Premier League, only to be relegated instead.

Discussing the club’s rising wage bill, Maguire explained:

“To avoid a points deduction, they extended their financial year to June 30, making the numbers look worse than they might have been.

However, they originally budgeted for a top-half finish but ended up in 18th place. Each spot in the table is worth around £3 million in prize money, so they ended up £30 million worse off.”

Maguire also criticized Leicester’s contract negotiations, noting that the club heavily incentivized players rather than offering high base salaries.

While this strategy might have seemed reasonable at the time, it backfired when results worsened.

“The club’s wage bill increased by £24 million in 2023 compared to 2022, indicating a lack of foresight.

They likely assumed relegation wasn’t a possibility, leading to financial commitments they couldn’t sustain.”

Leicester’s Transfer Failures and the Call for Change

Leicester fans have increasingly turned their frustration toward Director of Football Jon Rudkin, blaming him for the club’s downfall.

With a potential points deduction still looming next season and relegation all but certain, the prospect of an immediate rebuild seems unrealistic.

Rudkin and his team’s poor spending habits over recent years have only worsened Leicester’s situation.

Expensive transfer flops have drained the club’s resources, leaving them in a precarious position.

If Leicester hope to return to the Premier League anytime soon, significant changes are needed at the top.

Replacing Rudkin could be the first step toward rebuilding the club’s future.