Jamie Vardy dismisses any links to Ranieri’s sacking

Leicester City's Jamie Vardy has slammed rumours linking him with Claudio Ranieri 's dismissal as "untrue" and "extremely hurtful".

Reports emerged over the weekend that the Foxes number nine led a dressing room revolt against the Italian.

But the England striker took to Instagram on Saturday to deny any such involvement and thank his former boss for all his help.

Vardy's comments follow on from keeper Kasper Schmeichel's denial of players being involved with the 65-year-old's sacking.

The Italian guided Leicester City to their first ever Premier League title last season, and was dismissed on Thursday after a recent run of bad form.

The Foxes have failed to pick up a single Premier League win this year, losing five from six games.

And Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat to Sevilla appeared to be the final straw for Ranieri.

Posting to his Instagram, Vardy said: "I must have written and deleted my words to this post a stupid amount of times! I owed Claudio to find the right and appropriate words!

"What we achieved together and as a team was the impossible! He believed in me when many didn't and for that I owe him my eternal gratitude.

"There is speculation I was involved in his dismissal and this is completely untrue, unfounded and is extremely hurtful!

"The only thing we are guilty of as a team is underachieving which we all acknowledge both in the dressing room and publicly and will do our best to rectify.

"I wish Claudio the very very best in whatever the future holds for him. Thank You Claudio for everything."