SPECULATION that one of the world's richest men and his opulent superyacht were due to dock in Southampton have been shattered this morning.

The multi-million pound 238ft yacht Queen K, owned by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, was due to arrive in the city under cover of darkness early this morning.

However last night bosses at ABP announced the two-day trip had been called off at the last minute with no explanation given.

Mystery had surrounded the visit after Southampton-based shipping agents Cory Bros. Shipping Ltd refused to say why the luxury yacht was coming to the south coast.

Nor would the company confirm or deny that aluminium magnate Mr Deripaska who is married to the daughter of former Russian president Boris Yeltzin's daughter Polina Yumashav, was due to be on board the ship. With Saints struggling to find financial backing from a wealthy owner, questions were asked about the timing of the vessel's arrival.

Football-mad Mr Deripaska already owns a football team in southern Russia, and with an estimated personal fortune of £10bn, could easily afford to take the Championship team under his wings.

The 39-year-old spends a lot of time in the UK, owning a £20m home in London's Belgravia and last September he had been linked with a £350m buy-out of Arsenal.