SAINTS have shot down speculation they are interested in signing another Frenchman called Fabrice.

The club had been linked with a summer move for midfielder Fabrice Colleau, who plays for the little-known Guincamp club.

But the Daily Echo understands that the 26-year-old is not on Paul Sturrock's summer shopping list.

Saints already have two promising Frenchmen in their senior squad in Yoann Folly and Leandre Griffit, both of whom have impressed in their debut season at St Mary's, plus Fabrice Fernandes.

In addition, Bristol City claim they have had NO contact with Saints regarding a possible move for Northern Ireland international Tommy Doherty.

The 25-year-old Bristol-born central midfielder is just about to complete his best season yet for the Second Division club.

Sturrock would be well aware of the player having seen him for City twice against Plymouth this season alone.

But City chairman Steve Lansdown said: "I don't know anything about this, we have had no contact from anyone at Southampton."

Doherty, who signed a three-year contract only last summer, missed his side's Carling Cup loss against Saints back in October through suspension.

Apart from the red card he picked up at Wycombe which forced him to miss the Saints tie, the City skipper has also been booked 11 times this season.

Last season he was dismissed once and booked 10 times before making his Northern Ireland international debut in the 2-0 loss in Italy in May - the same match which saw Saints' Chris Baird, currently on loan at Watford, make his first Irish senior start.

Doherty is very much a 'holding' midfielder, noted for his aggression and intelligent passing of the ball rather than his goalscoring - just eight in a City career spanning 153 starts in league and cup plus another 32 as a substitute.

He played only twice in 1999/2000 due to ankle and knee injuries, and only once - in the LDV Vans Trophy - the following season.

It was only last season that Doherty first started to realise the potential he showed when he played in City's last season in the First Division in 1998/99.

Lansdown added: "I would not be surprised if anyone cast an envious eye over Tommy."

Sturrock has recently handed French youngster Folly an extended run in the team with a remit to be the 'holding' midfielder in a similar way that Doherty operates.

And Matt Oakley, a man whose ability to link defence and attack has been widely missed since his September injury, should be fully fit again next season following his knee problems.