BBC reveal true price of football

The latest results of an annual survey into the cost of watching football matches across 166 Premier League, Football League, Conference Premier, Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football League clubs have been published.

The headline statistic - that the cost of the cheapest adult ticket in the four top English leagues has risen by 11.7% - has set media tongues wagging and bought criticism from the Football Supporters' Federation amongst other supporters' groups.

Fans of Arsenal have the most to be concerned about - they hold the record for the most expensive match ticket (£126) and the most expensive season ticket (£1,995) - whilst the Gunners' cheapest season ticket is also more expensive than any in the survey, other bar the most expensive from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea.

In the Championship, the cheapest 'day out' - combining the cost of the cheapest match ticket, cup of tea and pie - is at Blackburn Rovers, where a grand total of £22.50 is accrued for an adult. An indication of the most expensive day out - replacing the cheapest match ticket with the most expensive - puts Ipswich Town as the dearest club to visit (£51.70 for ticket, tea, pie and programme).

A visit to Portman Road also works out as the most expensive on average, whilst a game at the King Power Stadium to watch Leicester City would dig a hole £31.50 deep in the average pocket, ranking them mid-table. The Foxes do have, however, the third most expensive 'dearest ticket' match day cost but this is offset as the £22.80 cheapest day out ranks them as the third cheapest on their day.

The data - which in the Championship is incomplete for four clubs - gives a sound indication of the cost of watching football and should reassure Foxes' supporters whose club are doing a fair job of managing costs at either end of the scale. Compared to last season, Leicester have jumped five places in 'cheapness'.

What this survey also demonstrates are the vast differences in the costs of Championship football: there is a difference of £503 between the most expensive and cheapest season tickets in the league. The scale may not be the same in the Championship as in the top flight, but the gap between those clubs charging the most and the least remains vast.

For more information on the BBC's Price of Football Survey, including full datasets, visit the BBC Sport website. Compare also the data from last season's survey, published on this blog.

Smiling Nugent leaves Foxes with plenty of reasons to be cheerful

A smiling David Nugent is on fine form for Leicester City and with the Foxes recording five wins on the trot for the first time in three years, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate at the King Power Stadium this month.

Whatever the outcome at the end of the season, Leicester can proudly say they have broken their recent form of inconsistency. Not since Nigel Pearson was last in charge have the Foxes won five games in a row and this current run is City's best in a decade. At this stage, Pearson's youngsters and nobodies have far outclassed the big-guns of the Sven Goran Eriksson era, undermining once more the ethos of big-spending in football. Pearson's team - in the making since January - has taken shape and it is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

The Foxes were just too good for Bristol City, who could hardly put up a fight in a 2-0 victory for the East Midlands outfit in their last fixture. It was hardly the most dazzling of performances from this season's Leicester City, but it was as professional and clinical as they have been in years. From the off, City applied high pressure and prevented the Robins from playing; Kasper Schmeichel had just one shot to deal with throughout the entire game and he goalscoring problems of seasons past have been dealt with. Nugent is a man on fire and even Lady Luck is smiling on the usually unlucky Foxes, with refereeing decisions and the ball's bounce falling nicely to aid Leicester towards the promotion places for the first time in ten years. They say you make your own luck; Leicester are building a factory.

Despite the money, the reputation and the players it is Pearson's down-to-Earth attitude that is winning games for Leicester City this year.

Defender out for four weeks; Hopper extends loan

Leicester City defender Sean St Ledger will be out of contention for at least four weeks following his injury sustained against Bristol City, it has emerged.

The Republic of Ireland international - who missed his country's 1-6 reverse to Germany at the weekend - sustained a hamstring pull against the Robins. Leicester went on to record a 2-0 home win without St Ledger.

St Ledger's injury, which sees him also ruled-out of the Boys in Green's match against the Faroe Islands tonight, leaves Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni with a defensive headache.

Meanwhile, young Foxes striker Tom Hopper has extended his loan deal at Bury and will remain in Lancashire until January. The 18-year-old has made seven starts for the Shakers and scored twice and will continue to be involved at Gigg Lane as Bury look for their first win of the season.

Conclusions from the Robins

Leicester City	2-0	Bristol City
	(HT 1-0)
Nugent 19 Foster OG 74		Scorers

King Power Stadium, attendance: 22,529
BBC Match Report

Wellens signs month's loan at Ipswich

Leicester City midfielder Richie Wellens had agreed a one-month loan deal with Ipswich Town.

The former Doncaster man is continuing his recovery from a significant knee injury and has been allowed out on loan by Nigel Pearson in a bid to speed up that process.

"I've been looking to go out on loan and when the opportunity arose to come to Ipswich, I didn't have to think twice," said Wellens, "Leicester wanted me to go out on loan and when they showed me the list of clubs that I could go to, Ipswich stood out."

Wellens is expected to go straight into the Tractor Boys' matchday squad.

Conclusions from John Smith's Stadium

Huddersfield Town	0-2	Leicester City
	(HT 0-1)
		Knockaert 30, 60

John Smith's Stadium, attendance: 13,821
BBC Match Report

Goalden: Anthony Knockaert (@stringersport)

Victorious Conclusions from Riverside

Middlesbrough	1-2	Leicester City
	(HT 0-0)
Bailey 50		Vardy 62 Dyer 89

Riverside Stadium, attendance: 15,679
BBC Match Report

Pearson Under Pressure as Redknapp Linked with Foxes Job

Nigel Pearson: Under unique pressures

Nigel Pearson's managerial seat is rumoured to be under threat from former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, according to national reports.

The Daily Mail are the latest newspaper to link Redknapp to the Leicester City hot seat, with this new speculation coming off the back of the Foxes' first away win of the season. Despite sitting in a comfortable 5th place in the nPower Championship, with a run of three successive league victories not matched in the previous eighteen months, Pearson is under pressure with the club's Thai owners wanting a swift return on their £60 million investment.

The King Power Group - now sole owners of Leicester City Football Club - have invested heavily since taking over from Milan Mandaric over two years ago but neither big-spending Sven Goran Eriksson or the more conservative Pearson have delivered their ambition of Premier League football.

Fans, too, had been on the City manager's back but following their victory at Middlesbrough, it appears that the club may have turned a corner towards promotion ambitions.

Harry Redknapp: Linked with the City manager's hot seat

Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn - the club chairman and his son - are believed to think that Redknapp has the belief, knowledge and contacts to return the Foxes to the top flight for the first time in a decade. The former Spurs, Portsmouth, Southampton, West Ham United and Bournemouth manager has seen recent success with the London club, leading them into the Champions League for the first time before being sacked at the beginning of the summer following a failure to repeat that feat. Now a consultant at Bournemouth, Redknapp is keen to return to management and is thought to be driven by the idea of leading a club like Leicester back to the Premier League.

Beckford makes Huddersfield loan switch

Jermaine Beckford has completed a three-month loan deal that will see him play for newly-promoted Huddersfield Town until 29th December.

Beckford had been tipped to depart the King Power Stadium since the end of last season, and rumours of a move to the Galpharm Stadium have been circulating for a number of weeks.

The 28-year-old striker has barely featured for Nigel Pearson's Foxes this season, with David Nugent and new acquisition Jamie Vardy sharing front line duties thus far.

Conclusions from the Tigers

Leicester City	3-1	Hull City
	(HT 1-1)
Nugent 7, 42, 90		Simpson 26

King Power Stadium, attendance: 20,815
BBC Match Report

Young Defender Signs for Three Years Moore

New deal: Young defender Liam Moore

Leicester City defender Liam Moore has signed a new deal that will keep him at the club until at least 2015, the player has reported on Twitter this evening.

The nineteen-year-old graduated to the first team to make his début last season, but his breakthrough came with a fine five-game run at the start of the 2012/13 campaign. Moore's promotion to the senior squad this season has widely earned him plaudits, from Premier League Manchester United no less, but the youngster has committed to a new three-year deal at his home town club.

"Really happy and proud to have come threw [sic] the academy at #LCFC and sign this 3 year deal taking me to 15 years at the club," he tweeted, "Big thank you to the #LCFCFAMILY and everybody else on all the nice messages. Appreciate them," adding the hashtag "#livingmydream".

The Repetitive Cycle that is the Story So Far

This article first appeared on The Football League 72 on Monday, 17th September, 2012.

Leicester City are once more presented with criticism of their inconsistency, as their league away form marks a dramatic contrast to that at the King Power Stadium. An ignominious defeat at home to Burton Albion in the League Cup aside, Nigel Pearson's Foxes have made something of a fortress out of their home ground but their away form is, barring one win at Torquay United - again in the League Cup - somewhat worrisome.

The story of City's away days so far in the 2012/13 nPower Championship campaign all tell a similar tale. On all three occasions, Leicester have been defeated by two goals to one, with a gallant second half effort to overturn the deficit in each game never quite cutting the mustard. It is the Foxes' away form that is troubling the City faithful.

Against Wolves on Sunday - as many saw on the TV - Leicester were dogged performers who could - should - have won the game. Martyn Waghorn hit the post, David Nugent had a free header brilliantly saved... neither saw the change in the final score craved by the 2,500-strong visiting crowd.

It has seemed for months that every time City win, a draw or loss follows. Likewise, every defeat heralds a bright new dawn where things will be got right. Perhaps Nigel Pearson is an expert at encouraging an ailing team, but not so good at providing an incentive to win for a team that has already tasted victory? The form book would certainly suggest so.

The City manager is also the man who best sums-up his team's fortunes this season.

"The players are working hard and I believe our fortunes will change," Pearson said after the Molineux defeat, "We have got to start getting the performances to a point where we are more difficult to beat because we have the armoury to hurt sides.

"We played some good football but you don't want to play good losing football. We have the nucleus of a very good side. We have to take responsibility for how we perform and then everything else will fall into place."

Conclusions from the Clarets

Leicester City	2-1	Burnley
	(HT 0-1)
Nugent 47 Vardy 57		Marny 10

King Power Stadium, attendance: 18,480 (323)
BBC Match Report

Leicester City become King Power FC

Leicester City have been taken under the direct umbrella of King Power International and are now wholly controlled by Vichai and Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn.

The club had been owned by Asia Football Investments, with the King Power group as a majority shareholder, but are now controlled directly by the Thai duty-free giants. The change is in name only - the management and board remain the same and the takeover has been fully ratified by the Football League.

Speaking of the change, City vice-chairman Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn said to the club's official website that he intends to lead the Foxes as a core part of the King Power brand.

"This is all part of our plan to fund and deliver a programme of long-term, sustainable success for the Football Club," said Top, "We are delighted to bring Leicester City directly under the ownership of King Power International, where it will be established as a core part of the group’s overall interests.

"The last two years have been an incredible experience and we firmly believe we have the key elements in place, both on and off the pitch, to take Leicester City back to the Premier League.

"I would like to personally thank the Leicester City fans and the people of Leicestershire for the amazing support they have already shown us in the early stages of our long-term vision for the Club, and look forward, together with the fans, to the season ahead and the long term success of the Club."

City face Burnley at the King Power Stadium, re-named last season after their owners' brand, tomorrow night (KO 19:45).

Conclusions from Molineux

Wolverhampton Wrs	2-1	Leicester City
	(HT 2-0)
Ebanks-Blake 13 Stearman 21		Konchesky 70

Molineux, attendance: 20,030
BBC Match Report

Striker Hops off to Gigg Lane

Young Foxes' forward Tom Hopper has joined Bury on a one-month loan deal, becoming the second Leicester City player to depart on loan this week.

The 18-year-old made his first team début for City in the FA Cup last January and will join the League Two outfit at Gigg Lane to gather further experience of senior football. It is Hopper's first loan move since he graduated from the Belvoir Drive academy a year ago.

Gallagher offloaded to Blades on loan

Loan spell: Paul Gallagher

Leicester City winger Paul Gallagher has been granted a loan move to Sheffield United in a one-month deal.

28-year-old Gallagher has seen his starting position come under threat following the arrival of Ben Marshall in January and Anthony Knockaert this summer and has made just one competitive appearance for the Foxes this season.

Gallagher joined City from Blackburn Rovers in 2009 and was part of Nigel Pearson's nearly-successful Play Off campaign that season. He has racked up 130 appearances for the Foxes and scored 28 goals in his time at the King Power Stadium, including a memorable hat-trick against Scunthorpe United.

During his month at Bramall Lane, Gallagher could play six matches as the Blades push for promotion from England's third tier.

Arsenal latest side gunning for Moore

Arsenal are the latest Premier League side to be linked with young Leicester City defender Liam Moore, following interest from Manchester United during the late stages of the summer transfer window.

With just a year left on his contract and having put in a number of impressive performances since graduating to the Foxes' first team at the start of the season, Moore has been linked with a string of top flight teams who are keen to snap-up the starlet.

The Metro reported today that Arsenal scouts were impressed by Moore having watched him during City's 1-0 victory over Blackpool at the King Power Stadium on Saturday, meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Aston Villa are also known to have sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old.

Moore is a regular at under-19 level for England and has become a hit amongst supporters having recieved a sudden call-up to the Foxes' first team following a dearth of injuries and departures to the club's defence over the summer. He made his Leicester City debut last season, having returned from a loan spell at Bradford City where he made 22 appearances.

The player himself remains focussed on the task at hand and insists that speculation surrounding his future will not deter him from putting in his shift for the Foxes.

"Other teams 'interested' has nothin 2 do with me or any1 from my side [sic]," Moore tweeted earlier, "Weather it's true or not. I'm a lcfc player tryin2 earn a new contact [sic]."

Conclusions from the Tangerines

Leicester City	1-0	Blackpool
	(HT 0-0)
Marshall pen 54

King Power Stadium, attendance: 18,655
BBC Match Report

Deadline Day: Beckford Loan Deal Collapses

Jermaine Beckford's loan move to Huddersfield Town was not completed and the 28-year-old remains a Leicester City player.

The deal for the striker was all-but completed yesterday evening but it has emerged this morning that the Foxes pulled the plug on the deal at the last minute.

Huddersfield were keen to replace outgoing striker Jordan Rhodes and, with former Leeds United manager Simon Grayson in charge, Beckford was a likely target. It was also rumoured yesterday afternoon that Beckford was a target of Bolton Wanderers, though nothing materialised from that move.