SAINTS have been praised by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore for coming near the top of the Fair Play League.

Although the club were 20th in the Premiership, they were seventh in the FP League.

Spurs may play in next season's UEFA Cup after finishing second to Arsenal.

The Gunners receive £30,000 prize money for being the most sporting team in 2004-05.

But it will be Spurs, as the highest-placed team who failed to qualify for Europe, who will go into next month's draw as Arsenal are already in the Champions League.

Arsene Wenger claimed earlier in the season that statistics showed his men were far from ill-disciplined and he has been proved correct as they won the award for the second successive season.

The Gunners won the highest score in terms of red and yellow cards received and other behavioural factors.

Relegated Norwich came fourth behind Chelsea while Saints (seventh), West Brom (eighth) and Crystal Palace (10th) ensured the bottom four all did well.

Scudamore said: "The Premier League attaches a great deal of importance to fair play and we congratulate Arsenal on their achievement and wish Tottenham well in securing a UEFA Cup place through the draw.

"Special mention also has to go to the four teams who fought out the relegation battle and finished so high up in the Fair Play League.

"They clearly approached the game in the right way throughout the season and were a credit to the league."

David Prutton picked up the most disciplinary points for Saints with nine bookings and the infamous red card against Arsenal in March.

The midfielder was eighth in the worst disciplinary records in the Premiership this season.

He was one place ahead of Jamie Redknapp, although five of his ten bookings were picked up at Tottenham and so didn't count towards Saints' total.

The next most booked player at Saints was Rory Delap (six cautions).