GORDON STRACHAN has dismissed any suggestion from Rupert Lowe that his decision to stand down at the end of the season was health-related.

Speaking after Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Birmingham, the Saints chairman and manager appeared to be at loggerheads as to the main reason behind Friday's shock news.

Lowe again stressed the medical reason which was mentioned in the club's original statement.

But Strachan was clearly irritated by reports his decision was health-related and insisted he was not leaving Saints in the summer because he might need an operation on his hip.

He then reiterated it was because he had made an agreement with his family shortly after taking the job.

Lowe, however, said: "Gordon has a problem with his hip which he made fairly clear.

"If you know about hips they are fairly painful and they are fairly key if you are going to be active and mobile.

"There has been a medical situation that has given him some discomfort and obviously made it more difficult to do his job.

"Medical situations are not black or white, they are grey."

Lowe said he also understood Strachan had made the decision some time ago with his family and that people would have to allow the Saints boss to explain the decision fully.

Strachan was happy to do just that and couldn't have been more adamant that it had nothing to do with his health.

He said: "It's not for health reasons, that was just imagination, but it was a good spin on it anyway.

"This decision was made two-and-a-half years ago and reaffirmed four months ago.

"Forget anything else, the decision was made by my family two-and-a-half years ago.

"I've now been working for 31 years, we are now grandparents and all the rest of it.

"We want to stop and smell the roses. I've got other things I would like to do that will eventually help me when I get back into football.

"I just wish people would believe me and accept it. I know it is not very exciting. It's more exciting if I'm going to collapse because of the stress, but I'm absolutely fine."

Strachan said there was not even any certainty he would need his hip replaced. "There is not a problem with my health," he said. I might have my hip done. I spoke to a specialist last week and he said to go on as long as I can because it is not a problem just now.

"Just listen to what I'm saying. This decision was made more than two years ago when I had two great hips. I was training with the lads, everything.

"I was completely healthy then and doing the same training as everyone else."

Responding to repeated questions about when exactly he made his decision, Strachan joked: "If you want to get precise, it was made a month after I had the job, I was walking up the stairs of the De Vere Hotel. I think we were in room 326 and we were passing 323 at the time, I can't be any more precise than that!

"Lesley was wearing a short skirt and that was why we were in a hurry to get to the room - is that precise enough?"

When quizzed by the media about a future return to management, Strachan smiled: "I said I would come back into football.

"I've no idea, I've got plans, but that's for me and my wife - because I don't want you lot at my holiday resort, cropping up beside me, asking questions!"