# 2007–08 Leicester City F.C. season

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. 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. The last time Leicester City wore an all-blue kit was during the promotion season of 2002–03.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 20 | Southampton | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 56 | 72 | −16 | 54 | |
| 21 | Coventry City | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 52 | 64 | −12 | 53 | |
| 22 | Leicester City (R) | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 42 | 45 | −3 | 52 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 23 | Scunthorpe United (R) | 46 | 11 | 13 | 22 | 46 | 69 | −23 | 46 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 24 | Colchester United (R) | 46 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 62 | 86 | −24 | 38 | Relegation to Football League One |

### Club standings

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 4 May 2008. Source: LCFC Football League Championship Results

## Results

Leicester City's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Championship

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 11 August 2007 | Blackpool | H | 0–1 | 26,650 | |
| 18 August 2007 | Crystal Palace | A | 2–2 | 15,607 | Campbell, Kisnorbo |
| 25 August 2007 | Watford | H | 4–1 | 21,642 | Hume, Campbell, Sheehan, de Vries |
| 1 September 2007 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–0 | 11,850 | |
| 15 September 2007 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–1 | 21,893 | Hume (pen) |
| 22 September 2007 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–2 | 21,918 | |
| 29 September 2007 | Stoke City | H | 1–1 | 23,654 | Fryatt |
| 2 October 2007 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 0–0 | 21,311 | |
| 6 October 2007 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 2–0 | 20,010 | McAuley, Sodje (own goal) |
| 20 October 2007 | Scunthorpe United | A | 0–0 | 6,006 | |
| 23 October 2007 | Sheffield United | H | 0–1 | 21,146 | |
| 27 October 2007 | Barnsley | H | 2–0 | 24,133 | John, Kisnorbo |
| 3 November 2007 | Colchester United | A | 1–1 | 5,661 | John |
| 6 November 2007 | Preston North End | A | 1–1 | 10,930 | Campbell |
| 10 November 2007 | Burnley | H | 0–1 | 21,334 | |
| 24 November 2007 | Bristol City | A | 2–0 | 15,040 | Stearman, Fryatt |
| 26 November 2007 | Cardiff City | H | 0–0 | 27,246 | |
| 1 December 2007 | Southampton | H | 1–2 | 20,070 | King |
| 4 December 2007 | Burnley | A | 1–1 | 10,688 | Hume |
| 8 December 2007 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 1–2 | 22,088 | Hume |
| 11 December 2007 | Ipswich Town | A | 1–3 | 17,938 | Hume |
| 15 December 2007 | Hull City | A | 0–2 | 16,006 | |
| 22 December 2007 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 23,477 | Hume |
| 26 December 2007 | Ipswich Town | H | 2–0 | 24,049 | Stearman, Kisnorbo |
| 29 December 2007 | Charlton Athletic | H | 1–1 | 23,667 | Clemence |
| 1 January 2008 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–3 | 13,326 | Hume |
| 12 January 2008 | Coventry City | H | 2–0 | 23,905 | Howard, Hayles |
| 19 January 2008 | Norwich City | A | 0–0 | 25,462 | |
| 28 January 2008 | Crystal Palace | H | 1–0 | 21,764 | Hayles |
| 2 February 2008 | Blackpool | A | 1–2 | 9,298 | Howard |
| 9 February 2008 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 0–1 | 21,264 | |
| 12 February 2008 | Watford | A | 0–1 | 15,944 | |
| 16 February 2008 | Norwich City | H | 4–0 | 25,854 | Hume, Howard, Campbell, Clemence |
| 23 February 2008 | Coventry City | A | 0–2 | 23,129 | |
| 1 March 2008 | Cardiff City | A | 1–0 | 13,355 | Purse (own goal) |
| 4 March 2008 | Preston North End | H | 0–1 | 19,264 | |
| 8 March 2008 | Bristol City | H | 0–0 | 22,616 | |
| 11 March 2008 | Southampton | A | 0–1 | 17,741 | |
| 15 March 2008 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 4–1 | 22,038 | McAuley, Howard (3, 1 pen) |
| 22 March 2008 | Hull City | H | 0–2 | 30,374 | |
| 29 March 2008 | Scunthorpe United | H | 1–0 | 22,165 | Hendrie |
| 5 April 2008 | Sheffield United | A | 0–3 | 24,818 | |
| 12 April 2008 | Colchester United | H | 1–1 | 22,719 | Hume |
| 19 April 2008 | Barnsley | A | 1–0 | 14,644 | Hume |
| 26 April 2008 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–3 | 31,892 | Hume |
| 4 May 2008 | Stoke City | A | 0–0 | 26,609 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 5 January 2008 | Southampton | A | 0–2 | 20,094 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 14 August 2007 | Accrington Stanley | A | 1–0 | 2,021 | Wesolowski |
| R2 | 18 September 2007 | Nottingham Forest | A | 3–2 | 15,519 | Sheehan, Stearman, Clemence |
| R3 | 26 September 2007 | Aston Villa | A | 1–0 | 25,956 | Fryatt |
| R4 | 31 October 2007 | Chelsea | A | 3–4 | 40,037 | McAuley, Campbell, Cort |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 2 | DF | ENG | James Chambers |
| 3 | DF | AUS | Patrick Kisnorbo |
| 4 | DF | FRA | Bruno Ngotty |
| 5 | DF | NIR | Gareth McAuley |
| 6 | MF | ENG | Stephen Clemence |
| 7 | FW | CAN | Iain Hume |
| 8 | MF | BUL | Radostin Kishishev |
| 9 | MF | IRL | David Bell (on loan from Luton Town) |
| 10 | FW | ENG | DJ Campbell |
| 11 | DF | ENG | Jamie Clapham |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Matty Fryatt |
| 14 | MF | AUS | James Wesolowski |
| 15 | MF | IRL | Jonny Hayes |
| 16 | DF | IRL | Alan Sheehan |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Richard Stearman |
| 18 | MF | NED | Sergio Hellings (transfer listed) |
| 19 | FW | GHA | Elvis Hammond (transfer listed) |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Harry Worley (on loan from Chelsea) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Ben Alnwick (on loan from Tottenham Hotspur) |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Levi Porter |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Joe Mattock |
| 24 | FW | JAM | Barry Hayles |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Matthew Oakley |
| 29 | FW | JAM | Ricky Sappleton |
| 31 | GK | AUS | Paul Henderson |
| 32 | MF | HUN | Zsolt Laczkó (on loan from Olympiacos) |
| 33 | DF | ENG | Lathaniel Rowe-Turner |
| 34 | MF | HUN | Gábor Bori (on loan from MTK Hungária) |
| 35 | MF | ENG | Lee Hendrie (on loan from Sheffield United) |
| 36 | MF | NGA | Kelvin Etuhu (on loan from Manchester City) |
| 37 | MF | WAL | Andy King |
| 38 | FW | SCO | Steve Howard |
| 39 | FW | ENG | Ashley Chambers |
| 41 | GK | SCO | Rab Douglas |
| 45 | DF | ENG | Lee Cox |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | DEN | Jimmy Nielsen (to Vejle) |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Carl Cort (released) |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Shaun Newton (released) |
| 13 | DF | IRN | Hossein Kaebi (released) |
| 20 | FW | SUR | Mark de Vries (to Dundee United) |
| 21 | GK | HUN | Márton Fülöp (on loan from Sunderland) |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Louis Dodds (on loan to Lincoln City) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | DF | ENG | Clive Clarke (on loan from Sunderland) |
| 27 | DF | IRL | Alan Maybury (on loan to Aberdeen) |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Darren Kenton (to Leeds United) |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Eric Odhiambo (on loan to Dundee United) |
| 35 | MF | POR | Marco Ferreira (on loan from Benfica) |
| 36 | FW | NED | Collins John (on loan from Fulham) |

## Transfers In
### Summer

| Date | Position | Name | Club From | Fee |
| 4 June 2007 | DF | Bruno Ngotty | Birmingham City | Free |
| 4 June 2007 | GK | Jimmy Nielsen | Aalborg | Free |
| 6 June 2007 | FW | Ricky Sappleton | Queens Park Rangers | Undisclosed |
| 8 June 2007 | FW | Carl Cort | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Free |
| 19 June 2007 | MF | Radostin Kishishev | Charlton Athletic | Free |
| 19 June 2007 | MF | Sergio Hellings | AGOVV Apeldoorn | Undisclosed |
| 26 June 2007 | DF | James Chambers | Watford | Free |
| 4 July 2007 | MF | Jonny Hayes | Reading | Free |
| 5 July 2007 | DF | Hossein Kaebi | Persepolis | Undisclosed |
| 6 July 2007 | MF | Shaun Newton | West Ham United | Free |
| 13 July 2007 | MF | Stephen Clemence | Birmingham City | Up to £1,000,000 |
| 20 July 2007 | FW | DJ Campbell | Birmingham City | Up to £2,100,000 |
| 16 August 2007 | DF | Clive Clarke | Sunderland | Three-month loan |
| 16 August 2007 | GK | Marton Fulop | Sunderland | Loan |

### Winter

| Date | Position | Name | Club From | Fee |
| 31 December 2007 | FW | Barry Hayles | Plymouth Argyle | Undisclosed |
| 1 January 2008 | FW | Steve Howard | Derby County | Undisclosed |
| 4 January 2008 | MF | Zsolt Laczkó | Olympiacos | Loan |
| 8 January 2008 | MF | Gábor Bori | MTK Hungária | Loan |
| 11 January 2008 | MF | Matt Oakley | Derby County | £500,000 |

## Transfers out
### Summer

| Date | Position | Name | Club To | Fee |
| 21 May 2007 | DF | Nils-Eric Johansson | Free Agency | Released (joined AIK) |
| 21 May 2007 | FW | Danny Cadamarteri | Free Agency | Released (joined Huddersfield Town) |
| 21 May 2007 | MF | Andy Johnson | Free Agency | Released (joined Barnsley) |
| 21 May 2007 | DF | Scott Lycett | Free Agency | Released |
| 21 May 2007 | MF | Danny Tiatto | Free Agency | Released (joined Brisbane Roar) |
| 6 June 2007 | DF | Paddy McCarthy | Charlton Athletic | £650,000 |
| 9 August 2007 | GK | Conrad Logan | Stockport County | Loan |
| 10 August 2007 | MF | Max Gradel | Bournemouth | Loan (extended 31 August and re-signed 11 January 2008) |
| 31 August 2007 | MF | Stephen Hughes | Motherwell | Undisclosed |
| 1 October 2007 | FW | Mark de Vries | Leeds United | One-month Loan (re-signed on loan 12 November) |
| 23 October 2007 | MF | Radostin Kishishev | Leeds United | One-month Loan |

### Winter

| Date | Position | Name | Club To | Fee |
| 7 January 2008 | MF | Jonny Hayes | Northampton Town | Loan |
| 10 January 2008 | DF | Darren Kenton | Leeds United | Loan (signed permanently 31 January) |
| 11 January 2008 | FW | Carl Cort | Free Agency | Released |
| 25 January 2008 | FW | Mark de Vries | Dundee United | Free |
| | GK | Jimmy Nielsen | Velje | |

## 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.