UNITED KINGDOM: Leicester never really recovered from the celebrations as Claudio Ranieri was dismissed by the “Foxes” late Thursday, only nine months after bringing the small club into the history books by guiding Leicester to their first English Premier League title. Ranieri (65) ended up paying for the disastrous second season. After celebrating the title win, the Midlands club who are housed in the centre of the country, could not gather enough points and are dangerously sitting just one point above the relegation zone. This season, Ranieri’s magic has stopped working, there is no fight and belief in the defending champions “His status as Leicester City’s most respected coach is not in question, but the results this season have placed the club under threat and the governing committee, even if reluctant to do so, change of leadership is necessary in the interests of the club, “the Foxes wrote in a statement issued on their official website. “His warmth, charm and charisma have changed the perception around the club and helped him grow,” reacted Vice President Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha “We did not expect the fantastic accomplishments of the past season to be renewed this season, our only goal being survival in the Premier League early this season, but we are struggling to achieve this goal and we believe that a change will improve our chances as we approach the last thirteen days of the season. “ “I have to talk to my players, we have to fight in every game,” said Ranieri after the 3-1 humiliation against Millwall’s London club in the English Cup last weekend. ”I need the soldiers, I need the gladiators, Last season, we won thanks to that fighting spirit.” This season, the Ranieri recipe no longer works. If he had been able to count on the flawless mind and spirit of his team throughout last season, the Italian has failed to be able to instill the fighting spirit that he loves so much and which the modest club needs to at least survive in the top tier of English football. But the foxes who have won a mere five matches in the last 25 days, losing five as well have decided to finish the Italian’s affiliation with the Football club atleast on managerial grounds. The only ray of hope for the English club was their qualification to the quarter-finals of the Europes elite competition the UEFA Champions League and many believe that the Italian should have been allowed to guide his team to the advanced stages of the elite European competition and be given a chance after all that he had done for them. Ranieri’s sacking marks the end to an astounding fairy tale and who knows what’s in store for the midlands club as they look to survive the last 13 matches of the season.