Leicester City news: ‘We haven’t deserved to be in Premier League this season’

Former Leicester City winger Matt Piper says there was a “real feeling of despondency” from both the players and the supporters after the home defeat by Liverpool, which saw the Foxes’ relegated from the Premier League for the second time in three seasons.

“We all knew it was coming,” he said on BBC Radio Leicester’s When You’re Smiling podcast. “It is no big surprise that this club has dropped back down to Championship football.

“There is a sadness about it. There was anger earlier on in the season but, as time has gone on, that anger has dissipated and it is more disappointment.

“There is a real feeling of despondency from the crowd and the players.

“The players that pulled on the blue shirt against Liverpool you felt were running and fighting for the football club. They had the passion to wear the shirt – and that’s what we have been asking for all season.

“We knew the quality was lacking in the early parts of the season, but you can always bridge that gap with hard work, endeavour and passion.

“We haven’t seen anywhere near enough of that this season. I would include the manager, some of the hierarchy and the chairman in that.

“Unfortunately, when it has been collectively this poor, you are really going to struggle in the top flight of English football.

“We haven’t deserved to be in Premier League this season – and that has been rectified now because we are back down into the Championship.”

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds