MCLEISH’S SCOT TO BE BOSS

ALEX MCLEISH is in pole position to land the Scotland job after Walter Smith’s snub.

Mcleish was on the SFA’S original shortlist when they sacked Gordon Strachan in October after failing to reach this year’s World Cup.

The association then parted company earlier this month with chief executive Stewart Regan after the failed pursuit of Michael O’neill.

Smith will not be coming out of retirement, leaving Mcleish (right) as bookies’ favourite, but he is still to learn his fate.

Former Aberdeen stopper Mcleish is the fourth mostcapped Scottish player and also had a 70 per cent win rate for Scotland during his spell in charge in 2007. CHELSEA’S Michy Batshuayi was wanted on a permanent basis by Borussia Dortmund.

The German side took Belgian striker Batshuayi, 24, on loan last month.

And Dortmund supremo Hans-joachim Watzke said: “We tried our best to get a permanent option, but it was a no go. When Roman Abramovich says ‘no’, it is a ‘no’.”