Ramnaresh Sarwan looks set to start the new season in Leicestershire colours.

However, it appears that Sarwan, the County skipper, will figure in just the first five County Championship games before switching to the West Indies' Champions Trophy campaign in England.

"We are hopeful that 'Ronnie' will play the first part of the Championship season before the Champions' Trophy," said County chief executive Mike Siddall.

"I think that is the best we could have hoped for, given that he has worked his way back into the international fold."

Sarwan, who was recalled to the West Indies squad for the recent one-day series against Australia and Zimbabwe, is unlikely to be available for the Foxes after the Champions Trophy, with a new T20 Caribbean Premier League due to start in July.

Leicestershire chairman Paul Haywood had been asked about the complicated situation with Sarwan at the club's annual meeting on Tuesday.

"We have contingencies," Haywood told the meeting. "(Head coach) Phil Whitticase has spoken to someone who can fill the position."

Haywood added that the club was looking at another batsman to step in for Sarwan, who proved a major success on and off the field last season, and will leave a considerable hole to fill in both four-day and one-day cricket.

The meeting saw both Haywood and Andrew York re-elected to the Grace Road board of directors, while David Wilson was re-elected as the club president.

Haywood paid tribute to Wilson's continued support for the club, in particular his backing of the Leicestershire Young Cricketers Education Trust (LYCET).

"I and everyone at the club would like to thank David for what he has done with LYCET, and what he has invested in the club," said Haywood.

"We all owe him a big debt because that has enabled us to continue bringing forward young cricketers."

Haywood pointed to a County squad that is brimming with players who have come through the age group and academy system, with the likes of James Sykes, Tom Wells, Ben Collins and Shiv Thakor the latest to make their names in the professional game.

"At the end of last season we were playing a very young, inexperienced side but we were winning games in the championship and Pro40," said the County chairman.

"We are still producing the cricketers we need to produce. That is a big plus."

Midfielder Andy King said Leicester City will head to Ipswich on Saturday full of confidence after their excellent display and victory over Blackburn.

City had not won in four games in all competitions until Rovers visited the King Power Stadium on Tuesday.

But they returned to form with an excellent display to win 3-0, which has put them back in touch with the top two in the Championship.

City have not won on their last four visits to Portman Road, but thumped the Tractor Boys 6-0 earlier in the season on home soil.

After Tuesday's victory against Rovers, which was capped by King's late goal, City will be bristling with confidence on Saturday.

"For Tuesday's game to go as well as it did gives us real confidence and a spring in our step going into the weekend," said King.

"It was massively important to get back into the mix for that race for second spot, and to end the bad run we had been on.

"We played outstandingly well, especially in the first half. That was the best we have played for a while.

"You could see the boys weren't short of confidence, the way we were playing it around. It was a big win.

"It shows the team spirit that we haven't let recent results affect us, we didn't drop our heads and we knew if we kept playing the way we can and stick together, then the wins would start coming again."

King has been in excellent form since returning to the side at Blackpool last Saturday, and he admits he feels his all-round game is getting better.

King is renowned for his scoring ability from midfield – his goal on Tuesday was his fifth of the season – but he is contributing much more in all areas.

"I have been pleased to come back into the team and to play well," he said.

"I was pleased with my performance (against Blackburn) and to score was very pleasing. Hopefully, I can keep that going until the end of the season.

"I think every player will add more aspects to their game as they get older. I have played more than 200 games now for Leicester, which is a feat I am very proud of.

"If I can help guide this team into the Premier League that would also be a great honour.

"We have to take each game as it comes but, if we play as we did on Tuesday and stick together, I am sure the wins will keep coming."

Motorists are being warned to expect delays on journeys in the city centre for the rest of the week while repair work is carried out on Burleys flyover.

In an accident on the flyover yesterday, an Audi travelling from St Matthew's Way to Burley's Way hit a safety barrier on the opposite carriageway at about 7am.

Police said no-one was injured in the incident.

Long tailbacks built up in the morning rush hour either side of the flyover, which is a major conduit for traffic through the city.

Although the problems eased later in the day, when the carriageway taking traffic towards St Margaret's bus station was opened, motorists still faced waits.

A Leicester City Council spokesman said: "The Burleys flyover sustained some damage to the bridge parapets during an accident."

He said repair work on the closed lane would start again this morning.

The spokesman said: "The other lane will remain closed and contractors will begin removing the damaged sections and carrying out safety testing after the rush hour, which will mean closing one lane of the slip road.

"We hope to have this completed by Friday but it may extend into Saturday, depending on the results of the testing."

A motorcyclist, who asked not to be named, said: "It was absolute chaos this morning.

"The crash caused tailbacks on both the A47 and A50 coming into the city – it was an absolute nightmare at that time of day."

Leicester City can't afford any more slip-ups in the race for automatic promotion, says Ben Marshall.

City head to Portman Road tomorrow to face Ipswich Town on the back of a welcome return to form on Tuesday against Blackburn Rovers, when they ended a three-game sequence without a win with an emphatic 3-0 victory.

It was one of City's games in hand on their promotion rivals and it was vitally important they picked up the three points.

But Marshall said City now have to retain their performances at that high level.

"It was a massive win," he said. "Now we have to push on because the other teams are winning. The results went for us last week but it is up to us to win our games.

"It was a great performance from the lads. They didn't look like scoring at all and we stuck to our task when we went 2-0 up and defended well and it was a great result."

Marshall had an impressive performance on the right wing and produced a classic piece of wing play to set up Chris Wood for City's first goal. The England under-21 international said he had been pleased with his form and was relishing playing on the right flank in front of marauding full-back Ritchie De Laet.

"It was nice to get a couple of assists on Tuesday," he said.

"Over the last few months I have been doing a job for the team. I have been unselfish, defending and making sure we are a team and not individuals. It has been paying off.

"I was playing on the right so I could get to the by-line and whip over some crosses. Luckily enough Chris was on the end of one.

"Ritchie was brilliant and I think they looked at him bombing on and changed their system, but we handled it very well.

"Their two full-backs were good but we did well against them and it was significant they were substituted.

"But we have to keep this form going now and really push on now."

Firefighters rescued an unconscious man from his blazing home.

The alarm was raised shortly before 7pm on Wednesday when neighbours saw flames engulfing the front door of the two-bedroom terrace, in Cedar Road, Highfields, Leicester.

Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus found the man unconscious on the first floor.

They brought him out and revived him using oxygen before an ambulance crew took him to hospital.

Nobody else was injured in the fire, which severely damaged the ground floor.

Police and fire service investigators yesterday sifted through the debris from the blaze searching for a cause.

It is believed to have been started deliberately.

The ground floor of the Victorian cottage was filled with newspapers, books, plastic and other materials.

Some of it had to be dragged into the street as firefighters brought the blaze under control.

Neighbour Kenneth Cooper said: "When I came home, the fire services were bringing him out and giving him treatment. He did not look good.

"They managed to prevent the fire from spreading but my home is full of smoke.

"It was like a pea-souper. I can't imagine what it was like next door."

Mr Cooper, 70, said of his neighbour: "He lives on his own and has always been a collector of items. He can't use the downstairs because it is full of stuff. I have been waiting for something like this to happen.

"He keeps himself to himself and does not talk to people."

Nasim Patel, who lives opposite, said: "I saw flames rising up the front door and there was a lot of smoke and somebody called the fire service."

Another resident said: "There was smoke pouring from the front of the house and we saw the firemen bring an elderly gentlemen out of the house just before 7.30pm.

"Police sealed the road off and only the people who live in the houses was allowed through."

Mahdi Mohammed, 27, who lives in Myrtle Road, said: "Our homes back onto where the fire was. There was a lot of smoke but the fire brigade arrived quickly and put the fire out."

A police spokesperson said: "The cause of the fire is being investigated but it is not suspicious.

"The injured man does not want his condition disclosed."

Oadby and Wigston Station Manager Mark Speight, the investigating officer, said: "I have carried out an inspection of the scene to establish the cause of the fire and establish its point of origin.

"I have concluded that the fire was started deliberately but the incident is not being treated as arson."

Leicester City's owners have agreed a £17million deal to buy the King Power Stadium, it was revealed today.

The Srivaddhanaprabha family say the deal underlines their long-term commitment to the club.

The owners, led by chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, have bought the stadium through their company K Power Holdings Co Ltd from previous owners Teachers Insurance, an American pension fund manager.

The 32,262-seater stadium was built at a cost of £37m and, following City's administration, part of the deal which brought the club out of receivership saw ownership of the stadium revert to Teachers.

They had supplied £28m via a bond scheme towards the stadium's construction, with the club taking a long-term lease while the bond repayments were made.

Vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said it was always the family's intention to purchase the stadium, which now carries the name of the family's international business.

He said the deal was a key part of their long-term plan for the development of the club into an established Premier League club, and would help sustain long-term success.

Srivaddhanaprabha also said the purchase would allow City to develop the stadium in the future, if they choose to increase the capacity.

"It has always been part of our long-term vision to put the stadium back where it belongs, into the hands of the football club," he said.

"While there are no immediate plans to alter the structure or design of the stadium site, the increased flexibility through direct ownership ensures that the football club can freely adjust to the changing needs of its supporter-base for the future."

City chief executive officer Susan Whelan said the removal of the debt to a third party ensures the club can move forward on an even stronger financial footing.

"The stadium already bears the proud name of King Power, but this latest development truly makes the home of Leicester City part of the Srivaddhanaprabha family's central business and sporting interests," she said.

City moved to the King Power Stadium from their previous Filbert Street home in July 2002, and it has the 19th largest stadium capacity in England, at 32,262.

Leicester City assistant manager Craig Shakespeare said they would give top scorer David Nugent every chance of being fit to face Ipswich tomorrow.

The 27-year-old, who injured his neck against Blackpool last Saturday for the second time this season, has a phenomenal scoring record against the Tractor Boys.

His double in the 6-0 drubbing of Mick McCarthy's men in November took his career tally against them to 11 from 11 games, and Shakespeare admitted Nugent would love to add to that tally at Portman Road, a ground on which he has also scored for England Under-21s.

However, Shakespeare said they would not take unnecessary risks with Nugent's fitness, especially as he played with an injured neck against Ipswich earlier in the season and then missed the following two games.

"David is 50-50 for Saturday," said Shakespeare. "He is improving every day and the physios are working on him.

"He had this neck injury before and came back against Ipswich, but had a reoccurrence of it which set him back. We want to make sure he is 100 per cent.

"He will be assessed leading up to the game, and we will give him every opportunity, but if he doesn't train today he won't be included.

"He will be bursting to play. He always seems to do really well against them."

Midfielder Matty James (knee) looks set to miss out.

Work on a controversial project to install bus lanes on one of the busiest routes into Leicester will begin on Monday.

Thousands of people objected to the £5 million project, jointly run by Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council, and Arriva. County Hall, who approved the scheme first in December, have said it would ease congestion along the A426 from Blaby into the city.

From Sunday night, lanes on the Glen Parva stretch of the road will be narrowed and traffic lights could be installed, with work on water pipes and cables in the pavement and street set to begin the following day.

This work will continue until April, when more intensive work will start in Glen Parva between Grange Drive and Soar Valley Way, and in Aylestone between Marsden Lane and Hall Lane.

Officers at Leicestershire County Council said the 24-hour bus lanes would make buses more reliable, ease congestion and make the road safer for cyclists.

But residents said the work was unnecessary and disputed claims it would cut journey times by between 15 minutes and half an hour.

Sylvia Tucker, 68, of Leicester Road, Glen Parva, was one of 4,000 residents who signed a petition opposing the plans.

She said: "It is simply not necessary. I caught a bus to and from the city every day for 30 years before I retired and there was never a problem."

Leicestershire County Council, which approved the plans in December, said a number of changes had been made as a result of feedback from residents.

The work will be paid for by a £2.5 million Government grant, supplemented by £1.5 million from the city council, £595,000 from the county council and £290,000 from Arriva.

Lesley Pendleton, county council spokesman for environment and transport said: "We believe this work will improve bus journey times and service reliability and relieve congestion on a key route."

Reece Brown and Frank Nouble are both pushing for their full Ipswich debuts against fifth-placed Leicester.

Defender Brown arrived on loan from Manchester United this week and will be pressing for an immediate chance to impress at Portman Road.

Nouble, however, signed from Wolves back in January but has only managed seven substitute appearances during that time.

Yet his hat-trick for Ipswich's Under-21 side in midweek coupled with manager Mick McCarthy's goalscoring dilemma, with his side finding the net just once in their last four games, could see Nouble promoted to a starting role.

Long-term absentees Anthony Wordsworth (back) and Paul Taylor (foot) remain on the sidelines as the Suffolk club look the stretch the four-point gap that exists between themselves and the bottom three.

Leading scorer David Nugent remains a doubt for Leicester.

Nugent hurt his neck in a challenge with Blackpool defender Craig Cathcart during last weekend's goalless draw at Bloomfield Road and the 14-goal striker missed the 3-0 home win over Blackburn on Tuesday night.

Foxes assistant manager Craig Shakespeare described his chances of being involved on Saturday as "touch and go".

Leicester came through the game against Rovers without incurring any new problems.

Matty James has missed the last two games with a knee injury and the midfielder will be assessed before the squad travels to Suffolk.

The Foxes, back to winning ways after three npower Championship matches without a victory, won the reverse fixture against Ipswich at the King Power Stadium in November 6-0.

Leicester City have not done a deal to sell striker Jeff Schlupp to Manchester United, insists assistant manager Craig Shakespeare.

Schlupp has been training with United since last month and there were reports this week that United had been impressed with the Ghana international and were about to agree a deal to sign him permanently.

However, Shakespeare said while they were regularly talking to United about Schlupp, who has appeared in United under-21 development squad games, the clubs had not made an agreement over any possible sale.

"We have not heard anything to that effect," Shakespeare said of the reports. "It is an on-going situation, as reported before. There is no change in that.

"Jeff was at the game on Tuesday (City's 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers) and came in to see the lads.

"We are in constant dialogue with Jeff and Manchester United. Again it is a situation we are at ease with.

"He is due to play another game for them and then we will take it from there.

"It is open-ended but they are not going to keep him for six months and not make a decision. But at the same time, if we feel we need to use him here we will. It is all very relaxed."

Schlupp is a product of the City academy and made his first team debut as a striker under Sven-Goran Eriksson, scoring a hat-trick on his debut in the League Cup win at Rotherham United, in August 2011.

This season he has featured at left-back under current boss Nigel Pearson but United have used him as a striker in recent reserve games.

Meanwhile, City's current crop from the academy were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by Hull City after extra-time on Wednesday.

Skipper Rob Paratore had put City ahead after six minutes at North Ferriby United's Grange Lane ground, but the hosts levelled less than 60 seconds later through a deflected goal.

City pushed for the win, which would have set up a home quarter final against either Liverpool or Leeds United, but it was the Tigers who progressed after two goals late on in extra-time.

COMMUNITY PHOTO COMPETITION CROWNS 'INSPIRATIONAL' WINNING IMAGES.

A photo featuring a Jubilee Big Lunch in Oadby, Leicestershire, and an image of a girl enjoying a disability cycling day in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, have won a community photo competition designed to capture on film the country's community spirit.

The Communities in Focus photo competition was launched by Big Lottery Fund, national communications charity Media Trust, and Local World last November and ran on the This is and localpeople websites for four weeks.

The competition had two categories, one for inspiring images of community life, and the other for photos of projects funded by the Big Lottery Fund – the largest distributor of National Lottery funding to good causes. Entries were made via Cam360, specifically designed by Media Trust as a place to share and publish images (mediatrust.org/cam360)

Judges selected 'British Together' by Bonnie Evans Hills, as the winning entry in the community category and 'Zara enjoying the freedom disability cycling day' by Steve Marsden as the most inspiring image of a project funded by Big Lottery Fund making a difference. Each winner receives a Canon D-SLR camera and two places on a Media Trust photography training course.

The winning pictures were chosen after hundreds of entries were reduced to a shortlist of 20 for each category.

Dharmendra Kanani, Big Lottery Fund's England Director, said: "The number and range of entries to the Communities in Focus competition is a reminder of the goodness that resides in communities across England; the images paint a picture of hope, ambition and communities driving change. Out of all the entries the two overall winners - the unity scene in Oadby and Zara, enjoying her day out - stood out and stole our hearts. This is because both of the images reflect communities we all recognise; make us think differently and better about disability and what it is to be part of a diverse society."

Zoe Bowring, Digital Marketing Manager at Local World, said: "Congratulations to the two winners and to all those that entered. It was incredibly difficult picking just two entries from the hundreds we received, but fantastic that so many people felt compelled to enter and show us the positive, fun and inspiring communities they live in."

Gavin Sheppard Marketing Director at Media Trust said: "We couldn't have expected a better snapshot of our country's wonderful community in that magical year of 2012 and we couldn't have asked for a bunch of more engaging and wonderfully shot photographs. Any one of our finalists could have easily been a worthy winner and that's testament to the power of photography to showcase the people of this country at their very best."

The shortlisted entries, 20 for each category, are below. Images available to view at:

Communities In Focus: Inspiring Images Of Community Life.

Communities In Focus: Big Lottery Fund - Shortlisted Entries.

Walkers Crisps are to put real meat in their chicken and smoky bacon crisps, upsetting vegetarians and many religious fans of the Leicester-made snacks.

The new Home Grown recipes of Walkers Crisps, which include real pork and chicken from British farms in two of the 10 revised flavours, have angered people who have enjoyed eating meat-flavoured crisps guilt-free.

Caroline van Dijk, a vegetarian who owns the Good Earth restaurant, in Leicester city centre, said she did not understand the move, which is causing a storm on Twitter.

She said: "I like the smoky bacon crisps and I know other vegetarians who do, too.

"Why do they have to meddle?

"I think a lot of people will be angry and Walkers will need to change the packets because people will just presume there's no meat still."

Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, said the company now had a moral duty to make sure the packets contained clear warnings.

He said: "Pork is forbidden for Jews and Muslims and most chicken produced is not halal.

"People have always known the flavours in Walkers crisps are artificial and it will be important for Walkers to make it clear what is happening, especially after the horse meat news.

"Walkers are going to see a drop in sales among Britain's Muslim community."

Other flavours changing ingredients include prawn cocktail crisps, which will have real tomato in them.

Sour cream and chive crisps will include sour cream from Dorset and cheese and bacon flavour will include cheddar from Somerset.

Some of the other meat flavours may also have their recipes changed to include real meat products in the future.

The company insists it is sticking to its plan to launch the flavours today, despite the backlash.

A company spokeswoman said: "Home Grown will replace the crisps in the classic range and it's a permanent move.

"It's not to restrict anyone but Walkers wanted to move to working with tastier ingredients.

"It may be rolled out across the whole range."

To promote the crisps, Gary Lineker joined his dad on a trip around the country, including a visit to the Lineker's stall on Leicester Market where Barry sold fruit and veg for 40 years.

During their trip around the country, Gary and Barry tasted tomatoes from Walkers' growers in Evesham, visited a Walkers' potato farmer in Hampshire and sampled cheddar cheese from a Walkers' cheese producer in Somerset.

Gary said: "Everyone knows I love my Walkers crisps but to fully appreciate and understand this journey of taste and provenance, I needed a hand from someone who knew his fruit from his veg, so my Dad was the perfect partner."