Leicester City fires manager Nigel Pearson

The touchline at King Power Stadium will be significantly quieter next season.

In a move that will surely leave some supporters speechless, Leicester City announced the sacking of manager Nigel Pearson on Tuesday, a decision stemming from "fundamental differences in perspective" between the Board of Directors and the 51-year-old.

Pearson kicked off his second stint as manager of Leicester at the end of 2011. He guided the club away from relegation in remarkable style last season, winning six of seven matches beginning on April 4, at which date Leicester sat at the bottom of the Premier League table following two months without a single victory.

Leicester issued a statement explaining the decision:

The Board of Directors recognises the success Nigel has helped to bring to Leicester City during his two spells in charge of the Club, particularly during the last three and a half years. However, it has become clear to the Club that fundamental differences in perspective exist between us. Regrettably, the Club believes that the working relationship between Nigel and the Board is no longer viable.

Leicester City’s owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, and the Board of Directors would like to place on record their thanks to Nigel for the considerable contribution he has made during his time with the Club and wish him well in the future.

Khun Vichai and Khun Top remain wholly committed to the Club's long-term development and to on going investment in a squad that will continue to be competitive in the Premier League. We trust that the Club's supporters will recognise that the owners have always acted with the best interests of the Club at heart and with the Club’s long-term future as their greatest priority.

Craig Shakespeare and Steve Walsh will take charge of first team duties while the Club begins its recruitment of a new manager. There will be no further comment until this process has concluded.

According to BBC Sport, there was a connection between the sacking and the recent termination of his son's contract. James Pearson was one of three players Leicester sacked after they appeared in a sexually explicit video where they were seen racially abusing a Thai woman.