Sexual assault charges against three Leicester City players accused of attacking women at a luxury hotel in Spain have been dropped, their club say.

Striker Paul Dickov, defender Frank Sinclair and midfielder Keith Gillespie were accused by three women of assaulting them while the team was at a training camp in southern Spain in March.

Those charges were formally dropped by Spanish authorities on Thursday morning, the club said in a statement.

"The club welcomes the news that all criminal charges have been withdrawn," the statement added. "We are pleased that what has been a very difficult time for a large number of players and their families is now at an end."

On Tuesday, the club said forensic tests had proved negative, showing no link between the women and the players, who spent six nights in jail after the allegations were made.

They had all vigorously denied the charges.

"It's fantastic news," Dickov's agent Phil Smith told Reuters.

Leicester City were relegated from the premier league on May 1 after just six wins all season. The club said on Monday it was releasing Sinclair and that Gillespie could also leave on a free transfer.