Southampton have passed on a large slice of the transfer fee owed by Tottenham for Gareth Bale in a bid to ease their immediate financial problems.

Spurs paid Saints an initial £5million for the Wales international left-back last summer, while agreeing a further £5million based on appearances.

But Southampton's plc chairman Rupert Lowe, who returned to the club at the end of last season, has accepted an earlier settlement as part of the deal which brought young goalkeeper Tommy Forecast to St Mary's on Monday.