AXE BOSS FOR GORD SAKE

points would effectively end Scotland’s ambitions of reaching next summer’s finals in Russia.

Few people in the game know the Scotland boss better than Mcallister, a former Scotland international with 59 caps, who has been a team-mate of Strachan, and also played under and coached alongside the 60-year-old.

Mcallister said: “It’s win or bust for Scotland when it comes to reaching the World Cup finals but in my opinion it shouldn’t determine Gordon’s future.”

The heat is on Strachan, especially after a drab 1-1 draw against unfancied Canada in a friendly on Wednesday night, which came on the back of successive World Cup qualifying group 3-0 defeats against Slovakia and England, preceded by a 1-1 draw against Lithuania at home.

It’s two years since the Scots last won a home competitive game – a 6-1 canter against lowly Gibraltar. And Mcallister added: “We have got to win. But it’s a strange-looking group. Beat Slovenia and we’re right back believing we can get there (to Russia). Lose and we’re gone.”

The former Leicester, Leeds and Liverpool midfielder hopes if Scotland slip up again there won’t be a knee jerk reaction with Strachan paying the price of another failed qualifying campaign. “I believe he should stay because I don’t see anybody else,” he added. “I also think there has been a realisation over the situation since those couple of bad results in the World Cup.

“I think people have come to their senses and asked themselves who else is there?

“I don’t think you can look at the Scotland team and see any lack of effort. No one can say he has lost the dressing room.

“I’ve been lucky enough to have watched a few of Gordon’s training sessions and the atmosphere is buoyant.

“We just need to put a few good results together and get back into the group.

“Gordon is still loving the job. He enjoys the fact that he is not wrapped up in the everyday business of managing.

“I’m not saying Scotland is a part-time job but Gordon loves working on the training field with the players without any distractions. “