Saints boss Gordon Strachan has paid a glowing tribute to goalkeeper Paul Jones - but admitted he may have to let him leave this summer.

Jones, who has been at the club for almost six years, has slipped behind Antti Niemi in the race for the number one shirt since the Finn joined last August.

In last Saturday's Daily Echo Jones confessed he may have to leave Saints to prolong his Welsh international career.

The 36-year-old, who has made 214 appearances for Saints, has been capped 31 times but knows he needs regular first team football to keep his place in Mark Hughes' side, who could be in the Euro 2004 finals next summer.

Strachan said: "Paul has been great because people were asking him questions about his future after he was not getting a regular game with us. If he said he wanted to speak to me, suddenly there was talk of a showdown meeting. But he is not that sort of guy, he has been brilliant throughout. I would love to keep him here and he knows that. But the fact remains that he is looking to play in goal for Wales in Euro 2004, and as far as we are concerned Niemi is now the number one keeper here."

Strachan added: "I will be delighted to speak to Paul over the next few days because I have always got time for him.

"He has gone about everything the right way, he is a nice guy off the pitch and a very good professional on it. I just wish everybody could do business like he conducts himself. But I can fully understand his situation because he is desperate to play in Euro 2004, and maybe he does need regular first team football to fulfil that dream."

Jones has been linked with a possible move to Wolves where he could again link up with Dave Jones who managed him at Stockport and brought him to Saints.

However, after the heroics of Matt Murray in the First Division play-off final, it seems unlikely Jones would be the automatic first choice at Molineux either.

Saints were today linked with a £2m bid for Helsingborg's Swedish midfielder Christoffer Andersson.

Speculation is also high that long-serving defender Francis Benali could be offered a coaching role at St Mary's.