FOOTBALL DIGEST

MALKY MACKAY will take interim charge of Scotland while the search for Gordon Strachan’s successor begins. Mackay, the Scottish FA’s performance director, will oversee a friendly against Holland next month.

BRUCE ARENA has quit as coach of the United States after their failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. The USA lost 2-1 to Trinidad and Tobago on Wednesday, with victories for Panama and Honduras edging them out of next summer’s finals.

FIFA have cleared Robbie Brady to play in the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup play-off. TV pictures showed Brady’s head colliding with Wales defender Ashley Williams’ back, but FIFA took no action.

TWO-TIME Ashes winner Steve Harmison has resigned from his position as joint-manager of non-league team Ashington. The former England fast bowler, 38, had been in charge since February 2015.