The Lowe blow

RUPERT LOWE has reopened his bitter row with Tottenham.

The Southampton chairman was playing hockey as his left-back Wayne Bridge made an excellent debut for England against Holland in Amsterdam last night.

Yet he still managed to take a swipe at Spurs' Dean Richards for failing to get into the England squad.

Richards left Southampton for pounds 8.1million in acrimonious circumstances in September saying he felt his England chances would be improved by moving to a bigger club.

But Lowe said: "Dean Richards said he wanted to further his career and improve his chances of playing in the England team when he left for Tottenham so in some ways it pleased me to see Wayne Bridge being selected and Dean left out.

"I hope Dean does go on to play for England but Wayne's inclusion disproves Dean's theory that he felt he had a better chance of playing for England as a Tottenham player."

The relationship between Lowe and Spurs deteriorated after Glenn Hoddle quit as manager of the South Coast club last year to join Spurs.

Lowe reacted to Hoddle's departure by calling the Spurs board "North London yobbos".

He added: "I am also disappointed that Glenn has chosen to turn his back on the club that gave him the opportunity to resume his top- flight management career."

Then when Spurs made an offer for Richards, Lowe reacted angrily again, reporting Spurs to the Premier League alleging they had made an illegal approach for the player, a charge which was later dropped.

The transfer finally went ahead but not before Lowe said: "I've done my best to keep the player at St Mary's.

This is a great disappointment to me and I suspect it will be a slap in the face to our fans who have voted Dean Player of the Year and raised him to icon status."

Spurs were unavailable for comment today.

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