Sven Goran Eriksson has expressed his disappointment at parting company with Leicester but backed the club to win promotion.
Swede convinced club will be promoted after exiting as boss
Sven Goran Eriksson has expressed his disappointment at parting company with Leicester but backed the club to win promotion to the Premier League.
The Foxes announced on Monday evening that Eriksson's 12-month stint as manager had come to an end by mutual consent following a disappointing start to the season.
Leicester had been among the favourites to secure promotion when the new Championship campaign kicked off but they have so far struggled for consistency and Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Millwall left them 13th in the standings, albeit only two points off a play-off spot.
Eriksson is sad that he will not have the chance to finish what he started and lead the club back to the top flight, but understands that results simply had not been good enough.
The Swede remains confident that the future is bright at the King Power Stadium, and feels honoured to have been part of the Leicester revolution for a while.
"I am disappointed to be leaving Leicester City Football Club. It was always my aim to lead the club into the Barclays Premier League and I am very sorry that I won't be able to do that," he said in a statement issued by the League Managers' Association.
"I have always thought, and still believe now, that the club will be promoted this season. The current squad is capable and ready to achieve promotion, but football is a results industry and unfortunately we couldn't quite get things right enough of the time.
Positive message
"Being the manager of Leicester City was an absolute pleasure and I wish everyone connected with the club the best of luck. Leicester City is a great club and I am certain that with the current owners in charge the club will go from strength to strength."
Eriksson had nothing but kind words for the players, staff and supporters at Leicester as he left a positive message to those left behind.
"To the players; old, new, everyone in the squad, I would like to say thank you. You are a talented group and I am hopeful that you will achieve success very soon," he said.
"To the staff at the club; both at the stadium and the training ground - you treated me like a king and I shall miss working with you all.
"Last but not least, to the fans; I want to say a huge thank you for your support. You are fantastic people and I will never forget the way you welcomed me in to your club. I am just sorry that I won't be on the bench the day you reach the Premier League."
