GORDON STRACHAN believes Philippe Troussier or Alain Perrin are lined up to replace him as Saints boss.

Speculation has been intensifying that chairman Rupert Lowe was preparing to bring in the club's first-ever foreign coach.

The Daily Echo reported on January 17 how Troussier - currently managing the Qatar national team - had leapt to the top of an internet bookmakers shortlist after a rash of bets. Perrin, who left Marseille less than a fortnight ago, told the Echo last Wednesday that he would love to manage in England.

And Strachan was quoted yesterday in a national newspaper as saying: "I think my job will go to a Frenchman."

The Echo was told over the weekend that a source inside St Mary's believes Troussier is currently top of Lowe's shortlist

Troussier has never coached a major European club side - he did once lead ASEC Abidjan to three Ivory Coast League titles, however - but has extensive international management experience.

He has managed SIX countries - Ivory Coast, Burkino Faso, South Africa, Nigeria, Japan - who he led to the second round of the 2002 World Cup - and Qatar. He was also linked with the assistant manager's job at Old Trafford last summer.

One Frenchman we CAN rule out, though, is former Senegal coach Bruno Metsu, who has just signed a new contract with Saudi Arabian champions Al Ain.

Meanwhile, Strachan has questioned the wisdom of appointing a foreign coach as his replacement.

"There's nothing special about them," he said. "Where does this 'foreign coach mentality' thing come from? It's a complete fallacy. Jean Tigana was supposed to be the world's best coach but Fulham bombed him. Wenger, Houllier - where's the cosmic football in their teams?"

FRANCIS BENALI - MY SUPERB SAINTS CAREER: 4-page special in today's Sport On Monday supplement.