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Fans groups have blasted the increased number of Premier League clubs who are launching a new home shirt every season.

In 2000, the Premier League charter pledged that replica strips would be released every two seasons, but 18 clubs launched a new home shirt last season and all 20 Premier League clubs are doing the same this year.

Tottenham has launched three new kits every year for six seasons in a row.

While the clubs are within their rights to release a new home kit every season, the move is in stark contrast to recommendations made by the Football Task Force, chaired by former MP David Mellor, which were included in the 2000 Premier League charter to give fans a fairer deal.

Most clubs, including many in the Football League, now issue third strips and commemorative jerseys, but Arsenal and Liverpool still say in their customer charters that "home shirts will have a minimum lifespan of two seasons", although the North London club stipulates that there may be exceptions.

"This gives the shirt more longevity in comparison to releasing one every season and our fans better value for money," a Liverpool spokesman told the BBC.

According to Premier League rules, clubs must "allow for market research to be undertaken with regard to the frequency of strip changes and to its design".

They must also "identify the intervals at which strip changes are intended to take place and the date of the next intended change" and each club's customer charter must be available to the public, outlining its policy with regard to ticketing and merchandise.

But Tottenham Supporters Trust chairman Bernie Kingsley said his group had not been consulted, while Football Supporters Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke labelled the club's decision to offer six new shirts (Tottenham will have a different sponsor for league and cup games) as "frankly ridiculous".

Kingsley said: "The club do talk to us but [on] any decisions that might affect their income revenue, they don't generally consult us.

"Last season we said that we didn't like the yellow stripe on the home shirt and asked if it could be changed, but the club said if they changed it based on what the fans said they would be considered a laughing stock."

But a Tottenham spokesman denied Kingsley's claims and told the BBC: "Our aim going forward was to continue to meet demand for greater variety and choice in all of the merchandise ranges that we offer, including replica kit.

"As a result the club took the decision from the start of season 2005/06 that all our replica kits would have a one-year lifespan and we regularly discuss subjects such as this at our quarterly meetings with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust."

Clarke added: "I think Spurs' actions are frankly ridiculous. Given the price of watching football in London, you have to be very rich to be a Spurs fan already. If you're paying for six shirts, that would be about £250.

"It is down to the individual whether to buy them or not but in the current financial climate I think the club should be more sensitive.

"The club will argue that by issuing new kits it provides more revenue streams in which to buy new players and some supporters will go along with that, but it's just another example of football ceasing to be a sport and more a business."