Saturday 30 June 2012

Conrad Logan extends City contract

Leicester City's reserve goalkeeper Conrad Logan has extended his contract at the King Power Stadium until June 2013.

The Irishman joined the Foxes' Academy in 2001 and graduated in 2004 and this new contract extends his stay with City into an eighth season. He remains as Leicester City's longest-serving player by some distance.

The 26-year-old has only made 29 first-team appearances for the Foxes but has built up his strengths during loan spells at an array of clubs including Stockport County, Bristol Rovers and Rotherham United.

Saturday 23 June 2012

Of Fosse and Foxes Notes No.1

Of Fosse and Foxes is proud to present a new Leicester City podcast. This first instalment involves my playing around with Garageband, a new toy I've not used before, but I hope to be able to post a number  of podcasts as the season wears-on. Bear with me as I develop the format and my technical capability!

Have a listen and post some feedback in the blog's Comments (below). I should also take this opportunity to urge you to subscribe not just to the podcast (using iTunes or a similar 'podcatcher') but also to the blog's RSS feed or email subscription. Check out the sidebar for details.

This first episode of 'Notes' explores the early-summer changes at the King Power Stadium and the news that the Foxes' season will start in Torquay and finish in the very different City Ground.

Tim

Monday 18 June 2012

Foxes to end season with Forest trip

Leicester City will play Peterborough at home to kick-off their 2012/13 nPower Championship campaign.

The Posh will be hosted at the King Power Stadium at 3pm on Saturday, 15th August - a full week later than the first game of last season.

City will travel to Charlton Athletic the following Tuesday, 21st August (19:45) before a visit to Blackburn's Ewood Park the next weekend.

The first derby takes place on Saturday, 10th November (15:00) when City host East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest, with Derby County kicking-off the festive season with their fixture at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, 1st December (15:00).

City will travel to Hull City on Boxing Day (15:00) before visiting Derby's Pride Park in mid-March (Saturday, 16th March; 15:00). The season is sure to close with fireworks as the Foxes travel to Forest's City Ground on the final day of the season, Saturday, 4th May (15:00).

Bamba completes Trabzonspor move

Ivorian international defender Sol Bamba has completed a move to Turkish side Tranzonspor.

The fans' favourite - who delighted and frustrated in equal measure - scored four times for Leicester City during his eighteen-month spell in the East Midlands, making 55 appearances for the club.

Bamba found his previously assured defensive berth under threat after the arrival of Wes Morgan in January and Nigel Pearson keen to sure-up an often leaky back four but did accrue 33 appearances last term, despite being required to play in the Ivory Coast's unsuccessful Africa Cup of Nations.

The move - rumoured for weeks - is thought to be worth up to £1 million and is set to earn the Foxes' Thai owners a tidy profit after he was bought to the club by Sven Goran Eriksson for £250,000 in January 2011.

City have not yet been successful in their bid to replace Bamba but are keen on Hull City's highly-rated centre half James Chester.

Thursday 14 June 2012

Foxes face Torquay trek

Three-times League Cup winners Leicester City will travel to Torquay United in the first round of the 2012/13 Capital One Cup.

The League Two outfit will host the Foxes on the week commencing 13th August, with the tie set to be the first competitive match of the season for Nigel Pearson's side. The match will be the first time that City have travelled to Plainmoor, with the Foxes' 3-0 winners on the two clubs' only meeting in the FA Cup, forty years ago.

City lie fourth in the all-time winners' rankings for the knockout competition - rebranded after the credit card giant this season thanks to a four-year sponsorship deal being agreed with the Football League last month - but have not won the trophy since 2000 having been finalists three times in five years under Martin O'Neill.

Sunday 10 June 2012

St Ledger scores as Ireland succumb to defeat

Sean St Ledger became the first Irishman to score in a major international tournament in a decade - and the first Leicester City player to score in a major European tournament - when his header drew the Republic of Ireland level against Croatia tonight.

The Leicester City defender netted just his third international goal when he evaded the Croatian defence to head home at the back post and put his country back into contention. Ireland had fallen to an early 1-goal deficit until St Ledger drew them level on 19 minutes.

However, Croatia proved the more able side as they scored twice again to earn a 3-1 victory over the Republic in the opening round of fixtures in Poland and Ukraine.

St Ledger's goal makes history as he becomes the first serving Leicester City player to score in either the UEFA European Championships or FIFA World Cup.

Bamba close to Turkey move

Leicester City defender Sol Bamba is close to a reported £1 million move to Turkish side Trabzonspor, according to sources.

The Ivorian international defender has become a regular fixture in the Foxes' starting eleven since joining from Hibernian in a deal worth £250,000. He earned praise and criticism in equal measure from City fans, with his marauding, attacking runs delighting supporters but causing some concerns about his defending. Bamba has nonetheless gained interest from a number of clubs following Leicester's disappointing end to the season.

Meanwhile, Scottish champions Celtic are reportedly keen on out-of-favour defender Matt Mills and have had a swap deal including Kelvin Wilson rejected. City want a cash deal in excess of £3 million for their record signing, according to the Leicester Mercury.