<font size="2">Birmingham City and Swansea City have joined former club Dundee United in the race to sign St Johnstone's Trinidad and Tobago striker, Jason Scotland. </font> But Saints manager Owen Coyle has not given up hope of retaining the 28-year-old, despite missing out on reaching the Scottish Premier League. </p> "We have put an offer to Jason to remain and there is no doubt in my mind that we have improved him," he said. </p> "However, we are conscious of the level of finance at which we are operating." </p> United manager Craig Levein has refused to be drawn on any interest in Scotland. </p> Scotland spent two years at Tannadice - scoring 10 goals - before a Home Office decision denied him an extension to his work permit in 2005. <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" align="right" border="0"><tbody><tr><td style="width: 5px"></td><td class="sibStdQuote"><div><div class="mva">I'm sure there will be a lot of interest, but there's nothing I can do to stop that </div></div><div class="mva"><div class="mva">St Johnstone manager Owen Coyle</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></p> He was then snapped up by the Perth club, who had their application approved. </p> But he is out of contract with Saints at the end of August and is thought to be keen on a return to his former club. </p> "Jason's a great player and I'd love to keep him here," said Coyle. </p> "We'll just have to wait and see what happens." </p> Scotland's agent, Michael Berry, revealed to BBC Sport that there is interest in the 26-goal striker both in Scotland and England. </p> The striker scored for St Johnstone in Saturday's 4-3 victory over Hamilton, but it was not enough to prevent Gretna clinching the championship and promotion. </p> Coyle announced on Tuesday that fellow forward Derek Lilley, goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell and midfielder Neil Janczyk were all leaving the club in the summer. </p> But Coyle hopes Scotland will remain an important part of his squad for next season. </p> "I'm not daft, I know how good a player he is and I'm sure there will be a lot of interest, but there's nothing I can do to stop that," he added. </p> If Scotland does move on elsewhere, he will require a new work permit. </p>
