Steve Cooper is SACKED as Leicester City manager – with Welshman axed a day after 2-1 home defeat by Chelsea

Steve Cooper has been sacked as manager of Premier League strugglers Leicester after just fourteen games at the helm.

The former Nottingham Forest boss left the King Power Stadium the day after his side's flat performance in a 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea that left them two points above the relegation zone.

Cooper was hired on a three-year contract last summer and even though he leaves Leicester in the best position of the three teams that were promoted from the Championship last season.

Despite the lackluster results, Leicester's leaders were alarmed by the level of performance, while the change in approach between Cooper and former boss Enzo Maresca is also believed to have upset a number of players.

Leicester's next game is at Brentford on Saturday and they will look to get a replacement in in time for that match.

They may turn again to Graham Potter, who discussed the role twice – after Brendan Rodgers' dismissal in the spring of 2023 and after Maresca's departure – without making the final move.

Leicester were relegated at the end of the 2022/2023 season after resisting sacking Rodgers until it was arguably too late.

Mail Sport understands that the hierarchy did not want to be left in confusion again this time with the stakes so high.

Although not believed to be a factor in his dismissal, Cooper's vociferous criticism of officials was unusual for a Leicester manager in the era of ownership by the Srivaddhanaprabha family.

After Saturday's match, the Welshman was vociferous in his attack on referee Andy Madley for not allowing Leicester more than one penalty in the second half.