Leicester City sack Nigel Pearson due to ‘differences in perspective’

The 51-year-old steered the club away from relegation last season but has still been axed.

Pearson took charge at the King Power Stadium for the second time in November 2011 and presided over promotion in the 2013/14 season to the top-flight, where they finished a respectable 14th in their maiden campaign after a brilliant run of results in the final weeks.

“The Board of Directors recognises the success Nigel has helped to bring to Leicester City during his two spells in charge of the Club, particularly during the last three and a half years,” a statement on the club’s website read.

"However, it has become clear to the Club that fundamental differences in perspective exist between us. Regrettably, the Club believes that the working relationship between Nigel and the Board is no longer viable.

“Leicester City’s owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, and the Board of Directors would like to place on record their thanks to Nigel for the considerable contribution he has made during his time with the Club and wish him well in the future.

“Khun Vichai and Khun Top remain wholly committed to the Club’s long-term development and to on going investment in a squad that will continue to be competitive in the Premier League. We trust that the Club’s supporters will recognise that the owners have always acted with the best interests of the Club at heart and with the Club’s long-term future as their greatest priority.

“Craig Shakespeare and Steve Walsh will take charge of first team duties while the Club begins its recruitment of a new manager. There will be no further comment until this process has concluded.”

Pearson was previously relieved of his duties in February before the club performed a dramatic U-turn.

The opening to the club statement is telling. This sacking appears to have little to do with performance on the pitch – which, towards the end of last season, was nothing short of sensational. However, there has been a near-constant stream of off-the-field indiscretions that have punctuated Leicester’s season.

There was Pearson's altercation with a fan that he told to “f*** off and die"; there was the throttling incident with Crystal Palace player James McArthur; there was also the incredible ostrich press conference.

Then of course there was the video of three players, including Pearson's son James, involved in a sexually-explicit video where a Thai woman was racially abused. Although Pearson could do little to prevent this, as it was during the players' free time, it happened on the manager's watch in the owners' home country.

So it appears that Leicester have sacked a very good manager due to off-field issues, which is the owners wont if they believe it is harming their club. However, there are very few managers who would have been capable of presiding over the upturn in results during the closing months of last season and the board may eventually rue sacking Pearson. Only time will tell.