HODDLE STAYING PUT - KACHLOUL WILL PLAY ON

Longstanding rumours that investment group ENIC have targeted one of Tottenham's favourite sons to take over from George Graham have persisted - with suggestions of a £750,000 release clause in Hoddle's contract.

However, Lowe does not contemplate the ex-England manager leaving The Dell.

"I am not remotely concerned about the rumours concerning Tottenham," said Lowe. "That is all they are. People put two and two together and make five.

"Glenn himself said last week that he is not thinking about joining Spurs - he loves it here."

Meanwhile, speaking exclusively to the Southampton official website, Hoddle insisted that Hassan Kachloul will continue to play a part in his plans, despite his impending departure, and handed a glowing tribute to retiring England captain Tony Adams.

"I have had a word with Hassan and we will take it on from there. We have plenty of football this season," said Hoddle.

"He will be involved - of course he will. There is no reason not to involve him but it does make it difficult to look to the future so I have to look at that as well.

"Obviously we are disappointed. We offered Hassan a two year contract and he has turned it down.

"The money he has asked for is way out of our structure. He has also turned down a move to Ipswich and that is how it is at the moment.

"This is what the Bosman rule gives you. If you cannot get things sorted, then Hassan will be waiting until the end of the season to move on."

Hoddle also explained why he made Alan Shearer his England captain, and made it clear that the national side owes a great debt to Arsenal's Adams.

"I plumped for Alan Shearer as captain because you look at Maradona, Platini - those forward players had more respect right across the world.

"No disrespect to Tony but strikers get that quicker than defenders. But I said to him that, on the pitch, Tony would be like my captain.

"The way he talks, the experience he has had of being captain made him magnificent at that job. He has given great service to English football.

"There was always going to be a day when he would make that decision, whether it was down to injury or his own decision like Alan Shearer has.

"No-one can complain about the service he has put in for England. He has often played with and through injuries to play for England.

"I have not read any articles, but I saw a headline that somebody had criticised him. In my opinion that is very unjust."