WHILE excitement erupted in Southampton over the prospect of Microsoft tycoon Paul Allen buying up Southampton Football Club, reaction to the news across the pond was a lot calmer.

At Vulcan Inc, Paul Allen's investment company, the news of the takeover bid were cooly denied.

Company spokesman Michael Nank said a deal to take over Saints was not in the works.

"To the best of my knowledge there is no truth in the rumours,'' he told the Echo.

"I am not aware that Mr Allen has any interest in purchasing Southampton Football Club.

"At the moment I am making inquiries into where the rumours came from.'' But despite the denials, there's no arguing that Allen has the right credentials to become a footballing sugar daddy.

At 54 years old, he is the 19th richest person in the world, with a personal fortune of more than £10 billion.

Well known in the American sporting world, he owns the Portland Trailblazers basketball team, gaining respect from fans by taking part in a halftime hotdog-eating contest.

He also owns Seattle Seahawks American football team.

Allen is also renowned for owning one of the largest boats in the world - the 127m luxury superyacht Octopus.

But outside sport, his interests lie in science and technology.

In 2004, it emerged that Allen was the sole investor in SpaceShipOne, a project to make commercial space travel a reality.

He also funds the Allen Telescope Array, aimed at discovering extra-terrestrial life.

One man who knows what makes Allen tick is Seattle Times columnist Brier Dudley.

Mr Dudley personally knows Allen - and said he could be described as "eccentric.'' "He's essentially a software geek,'' he said.

"He co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates but left the company to enjoy the spoils of life while Gates kept working.

"Allen was the one who was always out there having fun.

"He has made a lot of sporting investments but I don't know how important soccer is to him.''