FORMER Saints youth football coach Bob Higgins today denied sexually assaulting a teenage boy - just months after he also denied abusing 23 others.

This summer the 64-year-old denied over 60 historic child sex offences relating to when he was a coach at Southampton Football Club.

Today he appeared in court and denied sexually abusing a 14-year-old boy over 30 years ago - bringing his total number of alleged victims to 24.

Higgins, of Southampton, arrived at Southampton Magistrates' Court with his face covered by scarves and only spoke to confirm his name and deny the offence.

It is alleged in 1984, while working as a football coach, he 'breached his position of trust' and molested the teenage boy. He denies indecent assault.

Prosecutor Charles Nightingale said: "The matter relates to the defendant's time as a football coach and during this time he came into contact with a number of boys.

"He was an older man at the time and the crown say he was in a position of trust whereby he had responsibility over them and he breached that trust.

"This case is one that should join a number of others. There are 24 agreed parties in all.

"These matters came to light from an NSPCC helpline and significant efforts from Hampshire police."

He remains on unconditional bail and will next appear at Southampton Crown Court on January 5 next year when the matter will be moved to Salisbury Crown Court, so it can be included in his trial in May.

Higgins faces a total of 66 child sex offences which are said to refer to indecent assaults or attempted indecent assaults against boys predominantly "within the footballing community".

He faces 64 counts of indecent assaults against 24 teenage boys, and a further two counts of attempting to indecently assault one of them between 1979 and 1983.

All the alleged offences are said to have taken place over a 26 year period between 1970 and 1996.

Higgins was part of the youth system at Southampton FC in the 1980s and was youth team manager at Peterborough United from May 1995 to April 1996.

Spectacled Higgins, today sporting a grey beard, was still working in football with adults at Fleet Town when the police investigation into his actions first started last year.

He has always strenuously denied all allegations made against him.

Several police forces in the UK launched wide-ranging investigations into sexual abuse in football in November and a dedicated NSPCC helpline for football received 860 calls in its first week.

Southampton FC has cooperated with Hampshire Police as part of Operation Quantum since a "significant and complex investigation" began in December last year, when several players came forward to allege they were abused.

It is not known whether these allegations of abuse were related to Higgins.

In a statement released last December, the club said: "Hampshire Police and Southampton Football Club are committed to working together to investigate any historical allegations that may be brought to light in the Hampshire area.

"The club has informed Hampshire Police that we will offer our full support to any investigation they undertake, for as long as it takes, and with our full focus.

"The club works closely and tirelessly with the Premier League to promote the safeguarding of children and young people who are under our care or using our facilities, and their well-being is paramount to all staff."