Indian links developed by Leicester

Leicester City have signed historic twinning agreements with India's leading club and the country's national association.

The city has the largest Indian population in England and Wales, and, in an attempt to forge closer links with the Asian community in Leicestershire and abroad, the Foxes have officially twinned with the Indian champions Kingfisher East Bengal FC and signed a partnership agreement with the All India Football Federation. They are the first English club to make such a deal with a club or association in India.

"We are very excited about reaching these agreements with East Bengal and the All India Football Federation," said the club's chief operating officer, Paul Mace. "These agreements will open the doors to a wide range of footballing and commercial benefits for all parties and promote the name of Leicester City throughout the Asian subcontinent.

"Given the ethnic diversity of Leicester, it is important that our club is at the forefront of the development of football in India."

Kingfisher will be invited to play a friendly fixture at the Walkers Stadium later this season, while the Leicester coaching staff will make the reverse trip to India to run coaching programmes with the club and association.