Gary Lineker has expressed concern over Leicester City’s promotion bid, describing it as “squeaky bum time” due to the tightening race in the Championship. With Leeds United trailing by just three points and Ipswich Town four points behind, the competition is intense, making the final nine matches crucial.
In a conversation with Alan Shearer on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker delved into the challenges facing Leicester and suggested that a potential points deduction could be affecting their recent form.
The Foxes have won only one of their last five league matches, while Leeds and Ipswich have secured victories in four of their respective games during the same period.
One major factor contributing to the uncertainty is the looming risk of a points deduction for Leicester City. This risk arises from two potential breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR): one for the three-year cycle ending in the 2022-23 season and another for the current cycle ending in the 2023-24 campaign.
“Leicester have obviously got that thing hanging over them as well, a points deduction, which if they do go up they could get right at the start of next season, so they could start with minus six or something. That would be bloody depressing,” said Lineker.
“The rules are the rules and if you break them – it may or may not be my team – but I would criticise the management and the club at that point, if that is indeed the case.”
“Only won one of their last five. It’s squeaky, squeaky, squeaky bum time,” he added. “Why is it in football that nothing is ever easy? There you were cruising along, 10 points, 11 points clear… they had a big lead. I suppose every team is going to have a sticky spell, but as long as it doesn’t last any bloody longer.”