No 1 man Smith can flourish with big name No 2s

WALTER SMITH taking charge of Scotland would be the first step in the right direction by the SFA.

If they then follow a secondary plan similar to one in which the 69-year-old worked through over three decades ago, the country might just get the perfect recipe for a major tournament breakthrough.

Quite simply, we can have the very best of both worlds scenario.

If Smith wants to take this job and can be convinced by the SFA he is the man then that would look like a fine choice.

He has the wealth of knowledge, the experience and can command the instant respect of the players.

The big argument against him is he hasn’t managed a team for seven years.

That does not seem like a big problem for this column.

But, for anyone who does feel it might be an issue, there is a golden chance to give Scotland the best of both worlds.

During the qualification period for Mexico 1986, Jock Stein was the experienced man at the helm.

However, the worldlywise boss was also aware of the bubbling talent of coaches working within the Scottish game at that time and he was not too proud to get them involved and use their younger eyes and ideas.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who was conquering all with Aberdeen, was drafted into the set-up. So was Jim McLean who was working miracles at Dundee United.

Smith himself, coaching for McLean at Tannadice, was also involved on the senior scene having worked with the Under-18 and Under-21 sides.

Stein tapped into the expertise of those boys on the ground.

Now, on the face of it, there seems to be two choices for the SFA.

Do they go with the experience of Smith? Or do they appoint one of the young up-and- coming thrusters? But what if it doesn’t need to be either or?

Individuals such as Derek McInnes and Steve Clarke are Scottish and doing wonderful jobs.

It’s hard to imagine any of those guys wanting to give up the day-to-day involvement with the game, not to mention the compensation haggling.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t go in and work with Smith on a game-to-game basis.

Gordon Strachan often called guys up. But with the greatest of respect to talented individuals such as Tony Docherty and Callum Davidson, it was often a mystery why not go for the No.1s instead of their assistants.

Smith must be given the choice of backroom team. It was the same in his first time in office when he made it clear he wanted Tommy Burns as one of his assistants.

Imagine McInnes and Clarke with Smith?

Incidentally, McInnes and Clarke are the ones mentioned because they are the most recognisable Scottish figures working here at the moment but you could make that Paul Lambert or Gary Caldwell or any other young manager working their way up.

But if it was McInnes and Clarke you get all the knowledge and experience of a top-class respected figure leading the whole scenario but you also get the cream of the coaches working right now in our top league.

Surely it’s worth the SFA asking Aberdeen and Kilmarnock the question if Smith agrees.

You get experience but also get the cream of our top coaches