Former Leicester City striker Gary Lineker has led criticism of the club's decision to sack manager Claudio Ranieri, calling it "inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad".
The club's Thai owners dismissed the Italian on Tuesday night, with Leicester fighting a battle against relegation and facing a 2-1 deficit to Sevilla ahead of a Champions League last-16 second leg.
Lineker took to Twitter when the news of Ranieri's departure first broke. The former Leicester and England striker and current Match of the Day presenter first tweeted: "Claudio Ranieri? Sacked? Really? Dilly Ding Dilly Game's Gone."
After the club confirmed the news he added: "After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad."
After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 23, 2017
Foxes fan Lineker said on Radio 4: "For me I shed a tear last night. I shed a tear for Claudio, I shed for football and I shed a tear for my club.
"I just think it's inexplicable to me and it's inexplicable I think a lot of football fans who love the game, but I suppose in some ways you can explain it in terms of a panic decision. And for me a wrong decision and it's very sad."
He added: "It's a sign of modern football. What happened last season was pretty extraordinary under Claudio Ranieri and I think the lack of gratitude from the owners of the club - and who knows who else is involved in such a decision - beggars belief.
"Yes, in recent times we've seen a few managers lose their clubs after winning the Premier League, but they were mangers of clubs that expect to win titles and spend enough money on their clubs, so I suppose they can justify that and we see it at the big clubs in the world, the Real Madrids etc.
Mixed reaction to Ranieri sacking pic.twitter.com/jydW5Klmm0
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) February 24, 2017
"But for a club like Leicester to win the league last season and the magnificence of that story and the likeability of the club, especially under Claudio Ranieri, the ultimate gentleman, it kind of demeans the club, it takes away from the glory of last season.
"Whereas Leicester were hugely popular with everyone right around the world, to do something like this now I think loses a lot of that popularity."
Asked if the decision to dispense with Ranieri tarnished the title win, Lineker added: "I think it does to a degree. That season will remain with us forever and it was truly special and a lot of that was of course down to the management. The same guy cannot now be considered incapable of doing his job just a few months later, having achieved what was for me the biggest miracle in team sport."
Reports have claimed that Ranieri had lost the support of some of his senior players. "I would hope it's not true because I think that would have been a betrayal," Lineker said.
Another former Foxes forward,Tony Cottee, has claimed the club pressed the panic button by sacking Ranieri.
With Leicester at home to Liverpool in a crunch Premier League game on Monday, Cottee expressed his surprise.
He told Sky Sports News: "From that point of view the timing couldn't have been any worse. They've got a massive game coming up against Liverpool on Monday night.
"I can only think that something's gone on somewhere or there's been a disagreement and they've obviously come to this decision."
He added: "To press the button tonight it sounds like a real panic decision. The one thing I don't know, I don't know what's happening in the dressing room. It's a brave decision but it's a bizarre decision as well, bearing in mind where they are and the stage of the season."
Cottee also said he felt there would be a backlash from Leicester's fans.
"Personally I don't think it'll go down too well (with the Leicester supporters)," he said.
"I think Claudio Ranieri gave the Leicester fans last season a season that will never be matched. I think Claudio should have been given a little bit more time, a little bit more respect."
Premier League winning managers since 2012:
— Football__Tweet (@Football__Tweet) February 23, 2017
Mancini - sacked
Sir Alex - retired
Pellegrini - sacked
Mourinho - sacked
Ranieri - sacked pic.twitter.com/QeIwdaXPs5
Former player Alan Smith said he was "flabbergasted" at the decision to sack Ranieri.
"We've seen some surprising, shocking decisions over the last 10 years maybe as things have heated up in the Premier League. I think this one tops the lot given his amazing achievements last season, along with the players," he said on Sky Sports News.
"I just thought that unless they did go down they would stay with the manager that engineered the finest moment in the club's history and the most romantic story we've ever seen in football over the last 20-30 years or so.
"(I am) absolutely flabbergasted that they didn't hold their nerve and stay with that man."
Smith said some of the blame should be taken by the Leicester players, adding: "As always in these situations, the players have got to take a long, hard look at themselves. These are the same players he was picking last season."
Jose Mourinho said the dismissal was symptomatic of "the new football".
Mourinho experienced similar treatment at Chelsea. He led the London club to the 2014-15 title, but was dismissed in December 2015 after a series of dreadful results and what was described as "palpable discord" with his players by technical director Michael Emenalo.
The Portuguese, who succeeded Ranieri at Stamford Bridge when his first spell at the club began in 2004, clearly sees the Italian's exit as further proof of how ruthless football has become at the highest level.
He posted a picture of himself and Ranieri smiling, and wrote on Instagram: "Champion of England and FIFA manager of the year. Sacked. That's the new football. Keep smiling amico. Nobody can delete the history you wrote."
Current Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, a good friend of Ranieri, expressed his disappointment at the decision and will offer his countryman support.
Conte said: "I'm very, very sad, because this is our job and for sure I'm disappointed for him. First, he's a friend. He's a really good man. And he's a really good manager. He reached a dream to win the title.
"I understand the situation. I understand his frustration. For sure I'll call him. It's natural after this type of situation to talk and to show him also my disappointment for this decision."
