Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson pays tribute to chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Image Courtesy: Twitter/@LCFC

Former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson joined the voices of condolence for the club`s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Saturday night.

Thai businessman Vichai died along with four others when his helicopter crashed and then exploded outside the club`s King Power Stadium after a Premier League match against West Ham United.

The club opened a book of condolence for fans to pay tribute at the stadium on Tuesday, after many had left scarves and flowers outside the ground in the preceding days.

Nigel Pearson managed the club in two spells from 2008-10 and then from 2011 following Vichai`s takeover the previous year.

Pearson is credited with saving Leicester from relegation in 2014-15, his side winning seven of their last eight matches, before he was sacked after disagreements with the board.

Despite his parting of ways, Pearson was full of praise for Vichai`s contribution to Leicester`s fairytale.

"The leadership and managerial processes he instilled and encouraged within Leicester City over a sustained period of time has borne fruit in such a way that people throughout the world witnessed the impossible by seeing a club win the Premier League in the most incredible circumstances," Pearson said.

"This most definitely ensured the belief that sporting miracles can happen... On a personal level, a manager could not have wished for a better boss."

"I`m sure the wider football world will offer some solace for his loved ones. I will miss `The Boss`."

Pearson`s new club OH Leuven, where also Vichai acted as chairman, announced they had postponed Wednesday`s fixture against Lommel in the Belgium second division.

Leicester are set to decide whether or not to ask the Premier League for permission to postpone their planned fixture away at Cardiff City on Saturday.

Police have named the other victims of the crash as passengers Izabela Roza Lechowiczas, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, and pilot Eric Swaffer. The UK`s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it had recovered the flight data recorder and would continue to investigate the cause of the crash.