Leicester City open book of condolence for Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha

Sport360 staff 20:47 30/10/2018
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  • Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was a much-loved figure.

    Leicester have opened a book of condolence in memory of owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

    The 60-year-old Thai billionaire was among five people killed when his helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from the King Power Stadium on Saturday evening.

    There has been a steady stream of supporters arriving since the early hours of Tuesday morning, as supporters continue to lay their tributes, including flowers, scarves and shirts to the ever-growing shrine which now extends down one side of the stadium.

    At 8am this morning the club opened a specially-erected marquee where fans and people from the wider community in Leicester can come and write their messages in the book of condolence.

    The marquee, which is situated outside the club shop, will be open every day from 8am until 10pm “for the foreseeable future.” People unable to visit the stadium can leave a message in an online book of condolence via the club’s website.

    Leicester’s City Hall and County Hall will also light up in blue this week to honour Srivaddhanaprabha, as well as Nusara Suknamai, Kaveporn Punpare, Izabela Roza Lechowicz and pilot Eric Swaffer who also died in the crash.

    The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) continue to conduct its investigations as it tries to establish what caused Saturday’s tragedy.

    Leicester were due to play Southampton tonight at the King Power Stadium but that Carabao Cup tie was postponed on Sunday. It is not yet clear whether the Premier League match away at Cardiff this weekend will go ahead.

    On Monday, son and vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha was joined by his mother and Vichai’s wife Aimon at the ground as they laid a wreath during an emotional morning.

    Club officials, including director of football Jon Rudkin and chief executive Susan Whelan, also attended as they viewed the floral tributes.

    The president of the Thai FA Somyot Poompanmoung and his wife, Potjaman Poompamoung, were among the group.

    The first-team squad, along with manager Claude Puel, then spent 10 minutes looking at the tributes on Monday afternoon.

    Injured midfielder Daniel Amartey – who suffered a suspected broken ankle in the draw with West Ham which preceded the crash – missed the squad visit but attended alone on Tuesday to pay his respects.

    Meanwhile, the club are considering renaming the stadium after Srivaddhanaprabha, with son Aiyawatt and senior members of the King Power Group said to be in favour of the change.

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