City have rejected rumours that Dean Richards could be joining the club as a youth coach.

The Buttershaw-born former Premi-ership defender, forced to quit last year on health grounds at the age of 30, is known to be keen to stay involved in the game.

Richards is now back in the area after finishing his career at Tottenham but the Bantams have denied that he will be taking up a post with his hometown club.

Director David Bosomworth said: "Dean was at the ground last week but he was not there to see us.

"He had been up here on holiday and really just popped in. There was nothing untoward. He has only just started to take some coaching badges so it is wrong to suggest anything else.

"I'm keen to put the Bradford back into Bradford City but if we are looking to appoint anyone to the staff, we will always look at the abilities of a person first and not just if they've been a well-known player in the past."

Bosomworth admitted that there was room for another face on the youth development side since the departure of Chris Dowhan last year.

"It wasn't an intentional decision but Chris did not get replaced. We managed to get through the season all right but we are trying to raise the bar all the time and obviously that means more work being involved."

Richards, who attended Rhodesway School, came through the system at Valley Parade and played 102 times for City before joining Wolves for £1.85million in May 1995.

He went on to play for Southampton and then Spurs but was forced to retire 14 months ago after doctors warned he risked suffering a brain haemorrhage if he played on.

Richards was awarded a record £2m insurance pay-out in January.