The 2007–08 season was Leicester City's 103rd season in the English football league system and their 57th in the second tier of English football.
Season summary Martin Allen had joined Leicester from Milton Keynes Dons in May, but his refusal to sign Dutch striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who had been invited for a medical by chairman Milan Mandarić but turned away by Allen, created friction between the two. The tension was only exacerbated when Allen refused to put in a bid for Celtic striker Derek Riordan. Eventually Martin Allen left Leicester by mutual consent on 29 August, after three months and four matches in charge, with Leicester in ninth place. Former West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest manager Gary Megson was appointed as Allen's successor on 13 September, but left 41 days later, signing as Bolton Wanderers manager on 24 October, leaving Leicester 15th after nine league matches in charge. Ian Holloway, who had stabilised Plymouth Argyle in the Championship, was named Megson's successor on 22 November, but he was unable to revitalise Leicester and a 0–0 draw at Stoke City and with Southampton (who started the day in the relegation zone) beating Sheffield United on the final day of the season sealed Leicester's relegation to the third tier. Holloway left the club by mutual consent on 23 May.
Kit and sponsorship Leicester City's last deal with kit supplier JJB Sports came to an end on 9 May 2007.New shirt suppliers for Leicester City in 2007/08 football-shirts.co.uk, 9 May 2007. It was announced on 30 May that Topps Tiles would be the kits sponsor in a two-year agreement. On 26 June it was announced the new kit would be produced by Jako and would be an all blue kit.Leicester City new home Jako football kit 07/08 footballshirtculture.com, 26 June 2007. The last time Leicester City wore an all-blue kit was during the promotion season of 2002–03.
Final league table
Club standings
Results Leicester City's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
Football League Championship DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 11 August 2007 BlackpoolH0–126,650 18 August 2007 Crystal PalaceA2–215,607Campbell, Kisnorbo 25 August 2007 WatfordH4–121,642Hume, Campbell, Sheehan, de Vries 1 September 2007 Plymouth ArgyleA0–011,850 15 September 2007 Queens Park RangersH1–121,893Hume (pen) 22 September 2007 Charlton AthleticA0–221,918 29 September 2007 Stoke CityH1–123,654Fryatt 2 October 2007 Wolverhampton WanderersH0–021,311 6 October 2007 Sheffield WednesdayA2–020,010McAuley, Sodje (own goal) 20 October 2007 Scunthorpe UnitedA0–06,006 23 October 2007 Sheffield UnitedH0–121,146 27 October 2007 BarnsleyH2–024,133John, Kisnorbo 3 November 2007 Colchester UnitedA1–15,661John 6 November 2007 Preston North EndA1–110,930Campbell 10 November 2007 BurnleyH0–121,334 24 November 2007 Bristol CityA2–015,040Stearman, Fryatt 26 November 2007 Cardiff CityH0–027,246 1 December 2007 SouthamptonH1–220,070King 4 December 2007 BurnleyA1–110,688Hume 8 December 2007 West Bromwich AlbionH1–222,088Hume 11 December 2007 Ipswich TownA1–317,938Hume 15 December 2007 Hull CityA0–216,006 22 December 2007 Wolverhampton WanderersA1–123,477Hume 26 December 2007 Ipswich TownH2–024,049Stearman, Kisnorbo 29 December 2007 Charlton AthleticH1–123,667Clemence 1 January 2008 Queens Park RangersA1–313,326Hume 12 January 2008 Coventry CityH2–023,905Howard, Hayles 19 January 2008 Norwich CityA0–025,462 28 January 2008 Crystal PalaceH1–021,764Hayles 2 February 2008 BlackpoolA1–29,298Howard 9 February 2008 Plymouth ArgyleH0–121,264 12 February 2008 WatfordA0–115,944 16 February 2008 Norwich CityH4–025,854Hume, Howard, Campbell, Clemence 23 February 2008 Coventry CityA0–223,129 1 March 2008 Cardiff CityA1–013,355Purse (own goal) 4 March 2008 Preston North EndH0–119,264 8 March 2008 Bristol CityH0–022,616 11 March 2008 SouthamptonA0–117,741 15 March 2008 West Bromwich AlbionA4–122,038McAuley, Howard (3, 1 pen) 22 March 2008 Hull CityH0–230,374 29 March 2008 Scunthorpe UnitedH1–022,165Hendrie 5 April 2008 Sheffield UnitedA0–324,818 12 April 2008 Colchester UnitedH1–122,719Hume 19 April 2008 BarnsleyA1–014,644Hume 26 April 2008 Sheffield WednesdayH1–331,892Hume 4 May 2008 Stoke CityA0–026,609
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR35 January 2008 SouthamptonA0–220,094
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR114 August 2007 Accrington StanleyA1–02,021WesolowskiR218 September 2007 Nottingham ForestA3–215,519Sheehan, Stearman, ClemenceR326 September 2007 Aston VillaA1–025,956FryattR431 October 2007 ChelseaA3–440,037McAuley, Campbell, Cort
Squad
Left club during season
Transfers In
Summer +DatePositionNameClub FromFee4 June 2007DFBruno NgottyBirmingham CityFree4 June 2007GKJimmy NielsenAalborgFree6 June 2007FWRicky SappletonQueens Park RangersUndisclosed8 June 2007FWCarl CortWolverhampton WanderersFree19 June 2007MFRadostin KishishevCharlton AthleticFree19 June 2007MFSergio HellingsAGOVV ApeldoornUndisclosed26 June 2007DFJames ChambersWatfordFree4 July 2007MFJonny HayesReadingFree5 July 2007DFHossein KaebiPersepolisUndisclosed6 July 2007MFShaun NewtonWest Ham UnitedFree13 July 2007MFStephen ClemenceBirmingham CityUp to £1,000,00020 July 2007FWDJ CampbellBirmingham CityUp to £2,100,00016 August 2007DFClive ClarkeSunderlandThree-month loan16 August 2007GKMarton FulopSunderlandLoan
Winter DatePositionNameClub FromFee31 December 2007FWBarry HaylesPlymouth ArgyleUndisclosed1 January 2008FWSteve HowardDerby CountyUndisclosed4 January 2008MFZsolt Laczkó OlympiacosLoan8 January 2008MFGábor BoriMTK HungáriaLoan11 January 2008MFMatt OakleyDerby County£500,0005 March 2008MFKelvin EtuhuManchester CityLoan
Transfers out
Summer DatePositionNameClub ToFee21 May 2007DFNils-Eric JohanssonFree AgencyReleased (joined AIK)21 May 2007FWDanny CadamarteriFree AgencyReleased (joined Huddersfield Town)21 May 2007MFAndy JohnsonFree AgencyReleased (joined Barnsley)21 May 2007DFScott LycettFree AgencyReleased21 May 2007MFDanny TiattoFree AgencyReleased (joined Brisbane Roar)6 June 2007DFPaddy McCarthyCharlton Athletic£650,0009 August 2007GKConrad LoganStockport County Loan10 August 2007MFMax GradelBournemouthLoan (extended 31 August and re-signed 11 January 2008)31 August 2007MFStephen HughesMotherwellUndisclosed1 October 2007FWMark de VriesLeeds UnitedOne-month Loan (re-signed on loan 12 November)23 October 2007MFRadostin KishishevLeeds UnitedOne-month Loan
Winter DatePositionNameClub ToFee7 January 2008MFJonny HayesNorthampton TownLoan10 January 2008DFDarren KentonLeeds UnitedLoan (signed permanently 31 January)11 January 2008FWCarl CortFree AgencyReleased14 January 2008MFShaun NewtonFree AgencyReleased23 January 2008GKJimmy NielsenFree AgencyReleased25 January 2008FWMark de VriesDundee UnitedFree
Awards
Club awards At the end of the season, Leicester's annual award ceremony, including categories voted for by the players and backroom staff, the supporters and the supporters club, saw the following players recognised for their achievements for the club throughout the 2007–08 season.
Player of the Season Richard StearmanPlayers' Player of the Season Richard StearmanSupporters' Club Player of the Season N/AAcademy Player of the Season Lathaniel Rowe-TurnerGoal of the Season Iain Hume (vs. Watford, 25 August 2007)
References