Leicester City relegation play-offs: What could be the impact of the double drop?

Last season under Amandine Mikel, Leicester achieved their WSL record points tally of 20, winning five games at the King Power Stadium to help them finish in 10th place.

However, the summer departures of key player Yuka Momiki and academy graduate Ruby Mays, both to Everton, have weakened the squad significantly.

More damningly, just 10 days before the start of the 2025-26 season and with two years left on his contract, Mikel left the club.

The Foxes scrambled to find a replacement, appointing former West Ham assistant Passmoore initially on an interim basis and then permanently.

To those in the know, he made a positive impact with the players but that didn’t translate into on-field performance.

“Last season under Amandine, there was a lot of disconnect between the staff and the players,” McGrady explained.

“But now, it’s strange because Hannah Kane told me (in March) that the dressing room was the best mood she’s had in the five-and-a-half years she’s been at Leicester. The other players all seem to agree.

“Rick made making them happy a priority and he’s done that, but the results aren’t showing up.”

After a poor start, Leicester looked to make amends in January, opting for players with WSL experience including Alisha Lehmann, Rachel Williams and Ashley Neville.

It didn’t work.

“It’s really hard to buy that they’re all really happy,” says Lucy Jones, fan and author of her Football Hub. “It seems we have players who are signed because they are not getting a starting position for their club.

“True home-away fans aren’t going to be impressed by big-name signings. We want someone who will fight for the club.”

With the media, Passmoore was upbeat and honest, insisting after Wednesday’s defeat that Leicester now have “clarity” about what they need to do.

He has previously admitted that there will be a “reset” if relegation is confirmed.

Not sure what that looks like.