Pompey boss Harry Redknapp reckons Gordon Strachan WILL return to football management one day.

Redknapp returned to football management nearly two years ago after an eight-month spell as director of football at Pompey following his sacking at West Ham.

He was taken aback by Strachan's decision but reckons the Saints boss will not be away forever. He said: "He can obviously afford to without it and if he wants to go and play golf and enjoy his life next year good luck to him, but I'm sure he'll come back.

"I must be honest, I was shocked when I heard the news.

"Gordon's a bubbly character and has done a great job at Southampton, he'll be missed."

Redknapp added: "I'd be a liar if I said I wouldn't want to get out again if I got fed up. We make plenty of money out of it but you can get aggravation with it and maybe he (Gordon) thinks 'do I need it?' Maybe he needs a break, he's had a long run at it. We're all different, life would be boring if we were all the same, but sometimes I wonder whether I need it.

"You don't have much chance to take a summer holiday, you spend all your time trying to improve your squad.

"I was going to have a weekend away if we weren't in the fourth round of the cup, I was hoping we'd get Manchester United away like last year, but instead we got Blackpool at home!"

... but Fergie's not so sure

SIR ALEX Ferguson admits he is surprised by Gordon Strachan's decision to take a break from football.

The Manchester United boss was Strachan's manager at Aberdeen and then Old Trafford.

He said: "It does surprise me. Gordon has always been the type that has just loved his football.

"You sense that every week on the touchline with him. He will be a loss to football because of his enthusiasm. He has really rejuvenated Southampton."

Fergie did, however, warn it might not be easy to walk straight back into a top job.

He added: "Unfortunately you can't just pick your moments in this game. You can be soon forgotten. Sometimes you don't know if there will be a tomorrow and there are a lot of managers out there (out of work). It is as though you are removed from the map."