Richards eases Saints fears

Richards is fully focused on the season ahead

Dean Richards' agent has scotched rumours of the defender's imminent move to Spurs by saying the player is "very happy" to stay at Southampton.

Richards revealed last week that he was tempted by talk of him linking up with former Saints boss Glenn Hoddle again.

"I've still got ambitions and I'd still love to play for a big, big club - and Spurs are a big, big club," he said.

"If it did come up and it was an option, then I wouldn't write it off."

Tottenham manager Hoddle claimed he was on the brink of two new signings on Sunday.

Dean is 100% committed to Southampton

Richards' agent Ian Elliott

But the player's agent, Ian Elliott, has said the centre-half was misinterpreted and wants to assure Saints fans that he is more than happy to remain at the south coast club.

Elliott said: "Dean wants to make it clear to Southampton supporters that he is very happy to stay at Southampton.

"He's just signed a new contract that will keep him at the club for another four years and he's happy there.

"What Dean said was that he has a lot of respect for Glenn Hoddle, and if there was a deal done between Tottenham and Southampton then he'd be happy to talk to them.

"But he's a Southampton player and he's looking forward to the start of the season, and is fully focused on that.

"He's 100 per cent committed to Southampton."