Former Leicester City manager Brian Little admits he had a roller coaster of a relationship with the Leicester City fans during his time at the club.
His decision to leave City for Aston Villa after three years of reaching the play-offs before eventually leading City back to the Premier League certainly didn’t go down well with the Blue Army, but he admits there were occasions when the stick it got from some supporters almost stopped him taking his place in the dug-out.
Overall, Little says he had a great relationship with the City fanbase as they experienced three Wembley play-off finals but on the odd occasion, he says in his new autobiography Brian Little, A Little is Enough , some fans crossed the line on occasions.
“I thought it was really good to be honest but there were odd moments,” Little recalls.
Fulham 1-1 Leicester City
“I remember being 2-0 down against Derby and someone had a right go at me. I remember thinking ‘crikey, do I deserve that?’
“We came back and got a result but I almost refused to go out for the second half because it was that abusive.
“It was still that era when people said whatever they wanted and it wasn’t right. A lot has changed over years.
“In that era you had to take it, but I think we have been educated over time.
“It was just the odd game where something was said or done that really hurt. It was awkward but overall I got on with most people.”
He had a good relationship with his players, especially leader Steve Walsh and defender Gary Mills, and when it came to getting his talisman ready for action, he knew exactly how to play him.
“He was great,” Little said of Walsh.
“He was the one who hardly trained, and when he did he would play up front in the five-a-sides and not work on his position because of his knees.
“I would ask him on a Friday if he was okay. He would say he was struggling but I always said we would leave it until the morning and see how he felt because I knew he would wake up in the morning, smell the game and want to play.
“He had to smell the matchday atmosphere because he loved it.
“He is an unbelievable character. Very fiery, obviously. He had a very short fuse and there were the odd player, especially the lad at Wolves, Steve Bull, who he would clash with.
“He had a few dodgy days down West Ham way as well.
“If he was a firecracker he had the shortest bit of blue touchpaper going. Once it was lit it would go off straight away.
“I had some really good lads and the opposite extreme was Gary Mills, who was the perfect professional and loved the role I gave him (wing-back).
“That’s why I let him lead the team out when he couldn’t play in the final. He just deserved to be there and be part of it.”
Little still returns to City on occasions and meets up again with Walsh and club ambassador Alan Birchenall at the King Power Stadium, and along with the rest of the football world he has been enthralled by City’s recent success.
“I have loved it,” he said.
“I have been back over the years and been up in the rooms with Walshy and Birchy. I have been the brunt of Birchy’s jokes for a few years when I have gone back.
“I haven’t been for the last couple of years because I am at every Villa game, but two years ago I watched them play.
“There is a connection there. I can’t avoid my connection with Villa because that is the greatest thing in my life, but there is a connection with Leicester.
“People have said yes, it may have been messy in the end but I had done a good job. I felt proud going back.
“In general people have been warm to me and I am proud of what we achieved.
“How did we keep doing that year after year, going back to Wembley?
“It was a good story and a good part of my life.”
Brian Little, a Little is Enough is out now priced £18.99 in hardback and £12.99 paperback, and can be purchased by visiting www.brianlittleofficial.com .
Little is also signing copies at a Leicester City Supporters Club event on December 14 at Leicester City Supporters Club at the Sports Bar in Grosvenor Casino at Highcross.
