Gordon Strachan has started his summer rebuilding work by releasing Dani Rodruigues and Stuart Ripley.

Portuguese striker Rodrigues, 22, has struggled to recover after breaking his leg twice in almost exactly the same place while on loan at Bristol City and then in a training game at Saints.

Former England and Blackburn winger Ripley, who was signed by Dave Jones in the summer of 1998 for £1.5m, has failed to hold down a regular first team spot during his time on the south coast.

They join the retired Matthew Le Tissier and released players Kevin Gibbens, Adam Wallace, Ryan Ashford and Adrian Caceres as Saints look to lighten their wage bill with more departures still a possibility.