Former Bradford City defender Dean Richards has denied claims he is about to launch the biggest compensation claim in Premiership history.

A national newspaper suggested the 30-year-old player had filed a £2 million bid with insurers Norwich Union, after a long-term ear infection and dizzy spells forced his retirement last week.

As reported in the T&A, Mr Richards was forced to give up after experts warned his dizzy spells could lead to a brain haemorrhage if he continued to play.

However his agent, Ben Lambourne, dismissed the report on behalf of the Tottenham Hotspur star, saying: "I do not know how they have got this information and the figures they have quoted.

"There is the possibility of a claim being made but not before it is discussed between Dean, the club and myself. But there certainly has been no approach to an insurance club or any mention of figures yet."

A spokesman for Norwich Union also denied the claims, saying: "We have received no claim for Mr Richards, nor are we aware of his current situation. For a sportsman to make an insurance claim like this would be a very big deal."

A spokesman for Bradford City said: "I think it is very rare, you could probably count on one hand the amount of times claims actually lead to a pay-out and certainly nothing anywhere near this large."

Buttershaw-born Mr Richards first played for the Bantams as a teenager, scoring on his debut against Bournemouth.

The former Rhodesway school pupil remained a loyal and passionate fan after leaving in 1995, even delaying a holiday to attend the All Stars match as part of the T&A Save Our City campaign.

His agent said: "Dean is naturally devastated that he is being forced to retire so early.

"Dean has very fond memories of his time in Bradford and would love to give back to the community in some way. He has been very appreciative of the support he has received from back home and was touched by the tribute in Saturday's T&A to him."