Blab Sports
Leicester Citys New Midfielder Urges Humility as Foxes Prepare for League One Campaign
Leicester City midfielder Conor Chaplin has warned his new club that success in League One will require humility, hard work and a willingness to run harder than opponents.
Chaplin, 29, joined the Foxes as a free agent from Ipswich Town on a three‑year contract in July 2026. He is the club’s first signing since the relegation from the Championship was confirmed in April, when Leicester finished 22nd in the second tier and were demoted to the third division.
The midfielder, who helped Ipswich secure promotion from League One in the 2022‑23 season, said the expectations in the third tier are similar to those he faced in the Championship and that players must respect the competition.
"I think the expectation is similar, if not probably more here," Chaplin told BBC Radio Leicester. "You’re expected to win every game comfortably, and that’s never ever the case."
He added that League One is a tough league with challenging away and home fixtures. "When you’re playing against low blocks, you’re playing against good players at this level still as well," he said. "You need to respect that."
Chaplin stressed the importance of consistency and humility. "At any level you need consistency and humbleness," he said. "When you know you’re going to be in a team with good players, some of the best players in the division, you need to be humble enough to work harder than everyone else."
The Foxes’ new manager, former Rangers and Southampton boss Russell Martin, was appointed in June on a contract that runs until 2029. Martin, who has a long managerial résumé, was praised by the club’s chief football officer for his leadership qualities.
"I’d back our manager to be the best coach in the league as well," Chaplin said. "So I feel like we have that backing behind us."
Chaplin’s focus for the season is on day‑to‑day performance rather than the end‑of‑season target. "The ultimate aim is promotion back to the Championship, but I’m focused on the day to day work for now," he said.
He added that Leicester’s ambition is clear. "I want to be in the division above, definitely. And the sooner we can make that happen, the better for everyone involved at the football club."
Leicester’s relegation to League One marks only the second time the club has played in the third tier, a decade after their Premier League triumph in 2015‑16. The club’s history includes a Premier League title, an FA Cup win in 2021 and multiple League Cup victories.
League One, the third tier of the English football league system, consists of 24 clubs and is contested after the Premier League and the Championship. The competition is known for its physicality and the high level of competition among clubs that have recently been relegated or have been promoted.
Chaplin’s arrival brings experience from a successful promotion campaign. In the 2022‑23 season, he scored 26 league goals, earned the Golden Boot and was named in the EFL League One Team of the Season.
The Foxes’ first match of the 2026‑27 League One campaign will be against Notts County, and the club will look to build momentum under Martin’s guidance.
As the season progresses, Leicester will need to combine Chaplin’s experience, Martin’s coaching, and the club’s resources to secure promotion. The next few months will be critical as the team adapts to the demands of the third tier and seeks to return to the Championship.
The club’s official statements confirm that the focus remains on consistent performance, humility in the dressing room and a collective effort to achieve promotion.
Chaplin, 29, joined the Foxes as a free agent from Ipswich Town on a three‑year contract in July 2026. He is the club’s first signing since the relegation from the Championship was confirmed in April, when Leicester finished 22nd in the second tier and were demoted to the third division.
The midfielder, who helped Ipswich secure promotion from League One in the 2022‑23 season, said the expectations in the third tier are similar to those he faced in the Championship and that players must respect the competition.
"I think the expectation is similar, if not probably more here," Chaplin told BBC Radio Leicester. "You’re expected to win every game comfortably, and that’s never ever the case."
He added that League One is a tough league with challenging away and home fixtures. "When you’re playing against low blocks, you’re playing against good players at this level still as well," he said. "You need to respect that."
Chaplin stressed the importance of consistency and humility. "At any level you need consistency and humbleness," he said. "When you know you’re going to be in a team with good players, some of the best players in the division, you need to be humble enough to work harder than everyone else."
The Foxes’ new manager, former Rangers and Southampton boss Russell Martin, was appointed in June on a contract that runs until 2029. Martin, who has a long managerial résumé, was praised by the club’s chief football officer for his leadership qualities.
"I’d back our manager to be the best coach in the league as well," Chaplin said. "So I feel like we have that backing behind us."
Chaplin’s focus for the season is on day‑to‑day performance rather than the end‑of‑season target. "The ultimate aim is promotion back to the Championship, but I’m focused on the day to day work for now," he said.
He added that Leicester’s ambition is clear. "I want to be in the division above, definitely. And the sooner we can make that happen, the better for everyone involved at the football club."
Leicester’s relegation to League One marks only the second time the club has played in the third tier, a decade after their Premier League triumph in 2015‑16. The club’s history includes a Premier League title, an FA Cup win in 2021 and multiple League Cup victories.
League One, the third tier of the English football league system, consists of 24 clubs and is contested after the Premier League and the Championship. The competition is known for its physicality and the high level of competition among clubs that have recently been relegated or have been promoted.
Chaplin’s arrival brings experience from a successful promotion campaign. In the 2022‑23 season, he scored 26 league goals, earned the Golden Boot and was named in the EFL League One Team of the Season.
The Foxes’ first match of the 2026‑27 League One campaign will be against Notts County, and the club will look to build momentum under Martin’s guidance.
As the season progresses, Leicester will need to combine Chaplin’s experience, Martin’s coaching, and the club’s resources to secure promotion. The next few months will be critical as the team adapts to the demands of the third tier and seeks to return to the Championship.
The club’s official statements confirm that the focus remains on consistent performance, humility in the dressing room and a collective effort to achieve promotion.
