Steve Cooper has been dismissed as manager of Premier League strugglers Leicester after just 15 games at the helm.
The former Nottingham Forest boss departed King Power Stadium the day after his side’s flat performance in a 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea, leaving them two points above the relegation zone.
Cooper was hired on a three-year contract last summer and even though he leaves with Leicester in the best position of the three sides promoted from the Championship last term.
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Yet despite the moderate results, Leicester chiefs were alarmed by the standard of the performances while the change in approach between Cooper and former boss Enzo Maresca is also thought to have unsettled a number of players.
Leicester’s next game is at Brentford on Saturday and they will try to have a replacement through the door in time for that game.
They may turn again to Graham Potter, who twice discussed the job – following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers in spring 2023 and after Maresca’s departure – without taking the final step.
Leicester were relegated at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, having resisted sacking Rodgers until it was arguably too late.
Mail Sport understands the hierarchy did not want to be left wondering again this time, with the stakes so high.
Though not thought to be a factor in his dismissal, Cooper’s vociferous criticism of officials was unusual for a Leicester manager in the era of the Srivaddhanaprabha family’s ownership.
After the game on Saturday the Welshman was vocal in his attack on referee Andy Madley for failing to give Leicester more than one penalty in the second half.
