FORMER Saints boss Gordon Strachan has been linked with a sensational return to management - at Spurs!

The Scot quit St Mary's 11 days ago after announcing in January he would be leaving when his contract expired in May.

Saints chairman Rupert Lowe said Strachan's departure was hastened by media speculation linking Glenn Hoddle with a return to the club.

The Sun this morning claimed that Strachan told a close friend he has been offered the chance to manage at White Hart Lane.

The move would complete an extraordinary job swap with Hoddle, who could be in line for a controversial return to Saints.

Strachan's services are in demand if there is any truth whatsoever in the Spurs rumour - and the St Mary's faithful will be desperately hoping there isn't.

Strachan, 47, was recently asked by under-fire Scotland coach Berti Vogts whether he wanted to help bring on his country's youngsters.

But Strachan turned him down.

The ex-Saints boss is the latest in a string of names to be linked with the post created by Hoddle's sacking in September following Saints' 3-1 win at White Hart Lane.

Foreign coaches such as Giovanni Trappatoni, Raddy Antic and Roberto Mancini have all been mentioned.

The Daily Echo believes Strachan will honour the promise he made to wife Lesley when he took the Saints job and have time out of football to recharge his batteries.

He told her the Saints job would be his last Premiership managerial appointment.

Strachan is keen to spend time travelling the world and improving his coaching knowledge.

The Sun quotes a Saints source as saying: "Gordon wanted to return to Southampton after a break but that was not realistic.

"It wouldn't surprise anyone if he was back in charge of another Premiership club next season. He did an excellent job here."

Strachan is still being linked with a return to Leeds in some sections of the national press - four months after frenzied speculation first surfaced following Peter Reid's dismissal at Elland Road.

And Scottish newspapers have already begun touting him as Vogts' eventual successor following Scotland's embarrassing 4-0 thrashing in Cardiff last Wednesday.

Strachan's odds on being named Vogts' successor were slashed to 5-2 in the wake of his resignation at St Mary's.