Former Leicester City defender Conor Coady believes the problems at his old club 'have got to run deeper' than the manager and players after their difficult start to life in League One. Leicester are 18th with five points from their opening five matches and were beaten 4-0 at home by Oxford United. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Coady said the club had been 'in transition too long' following three relegations in the past four seasons, adding there is 'got to be something deep down that's wrong'.

He joined the Foxes for a reported £8.5m in 2023 but left for Wrexham after two seasons, believing the team has lost the identity that once made them difficult to face at King Power Stadium. Former striker Chris Sutton believes manager Russell Martin's reputation for possession-based football could make his position increasingly difficult if results do not improve, especially given the expectation for an immediate promotion challenge. Observer football journalist Rory Smith questioned Leicester's recent managerial appointments and whether there is a clear long-term strategy, pointing to differing styles and saying it 'doesn't suggest there's any real strategy'.

Smith also believes expectations will make patience difficult, with Leicester regarded as one of the biggest clubs in League One. Last season, owner Khun Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha told BBC Sport he shouldered the blame for the club's decline and has since put the club on the market with an asking price of more than £200m. Coady believes Leicester made progress over the summer by refreshing the squad and giving opportunities to younger players, but says the appointment of Russell Martin requires patience to implement his style of football.