Gordon Strachan has honoured a promise he says he made to his family more than two years ago by deciding to leave Southampton at the end of the season and take a break from management.

The 46-year-old Scot said yesterday he agreed with his family shortly after he was appointed at St Mary's in October 2001 he would see out his contract and then have a sabbatical.

He needs a hip replacement operation and his wife, Lesley, has long urged him to have that this summer rather than letting the condition degenerate further. He has agreed to undergo surgery after the season ends and may travel to Australia or the US with his wife as he enjoys time out. He intends to return to management at some point.

He feels this is an opportune moment to take a break and emphasised his decision was not stress-related. As a coach who likes to be involved in training, he has found his hip a hindrance.

He also believes most managers have a shelf life at one club of only about three years before their impact diminishes. He felt he stayed too long at Coventry, who were relegated under his stewardship, and always sensed it would be timely to leave Southampton after almost three seasons.

He said there were "other things" he wanted to do and so rejected the offer of a rolling 12-month contract from Southampton's chairman Rupert Lowe. Both parties stressed that this was not a reflection of a breakdown in their relationship.

"It is not a football thing or about money or about the club," said Strachan. "I made the decision with my family a few weeks after I took the job that I would see out my contract and then walk away. I am not going anywhere else and not cracking up, so people can stop looking too deeply.

"It is not stress. This is probably the least stressful time of my seven years in management. The only thing wrong with my health is my hip, which needs replacing.

"The chairman asked me to sign a new contract in the summer and he asked me again several times in the last five months. I told him in October I would not be signing."

In Strachan's first season at the club he guided the team from 19th to 11th. Then he led them to a best-ever Premiership finish of eighth and an FA Cup final, earning a UEFA Cup berth.