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Jackie: Time out game
JACKIE McNAMARA knows the Scottish national team crave one thing and one thing only – success.
Which is why the former Celtic star believes that ex-Rangers managerial legend Walter Smith could be the right fit to make a sensational return as the new Scotland boss.
McNamara – who won 33 caps between 1996 and 2005 – reckons Smith is the ideal man to end the Scots’ two-decade wait to qualify for a major tournament.
Despite Smith having not set foot in a technical area for the best part of seven years one-time full-back Jackie is adamant age would prove to be no barrier to the 69-year-old as both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Hodgson have shown that they could move with the times.
McNamara said: “Walter has been successful and worked with the best Scottish managers.
“Success is what we need. We need to qualify, we need someone to get the best out of the players.
“Walter would do a good job. I enjoyed working with him when I played under him with Scotland.
“He was very knowledgeable. There are a lot of good candidates there who could come in as well, a lot of people mentioned.
“But I thought he was fantastic when he was manager before.
“Most of the time I was up against his teams when he was at Rangers but I enjoyed working with him at Scotland.
“Other managers have evolved through time. Sir Alex was one who changed with the times.
“He understood the modern game and Walter can do that. It wouldn’t be a problem for him.
“There are other examples of that. Look at Roy Hodgson. He had been out of the dugout for a little bit and now he is back in.
“I don’t know if Walter wants to do it but there is no reason why he couldn’t step in.”
The former Partick Thistle and Dundee United boss also insists with the likes of Andy Robertson starring with Liverpool and Celtic full-back Kieran Tierney also tipped to go on to bigger things the future national gaffer has plenty of scope for progress.
McNamara said: “There are a great number of boys coming through. Naturally, everybody will look at all of the Celtic lads because they are playing at the highest level.
“For me Champions League is higher than international level because clubs can pick who they want from international teams.
“These boys are playing at the highest level week in, week out.
“Andy was playing against Spurs the other day. He is learning so much. Kieran is doing well too.
“We are fortunate we have two great left-backs at the moment. I know Tierney has also played in different positions.
“There are grounds for optimism. There are a few candidates for the post.
“I was asked the question the other week there about Neil Lennon – and Steve Clarke has done a great job at Kilmarnock.
“I don’t think anybody will really care who comes in as long as we qualify. That is the most important thing.
“I believe we can qualify, whoever comes in.”
The Scots are also on the look-out for a new chief executive after the resignation of Stewart Regan.
However, McNamara reckons the role requires someone to act more like a politician and a social worker.
He said: “Everything depends on results. If Gordon Strachan had got Scotland over the line and we’d qualified for Russia no one would have given Regan stick.
“It does not matter how good a chief executive is in their job.
“They could be the best chief executive in the history of Scotland but if we do not qualify the first port of call is the manager and then it filters down.
“They also need to be a politician as well as a social worker and a diplomat.
“There are things you can’t say or can’t change. You need everyone to buy into what you want to change for the better.”
The York chief executive also admitted he has grave concerns over Project Brave and the fact we are now churning out young robotic footballers who could be lost to the game at an early age.
The 44 year-old said: “There are little things for the future of the game that, from the outside, worry me – like Project Brave.
“The academies and kids losing their training facilities. There are so many coaches with their badges but the coaching is the biggest problem.
“They are teaching kids to be robots rather than express themselves, do things properly and learn the game.
“They have tried different things with Mark Wotte and Malky Mackay has come in and tried to follow a bit of the English system. I don’t agree with it. I see robotic players everywhere.
“Look at most kids now, you see it down south as well in the Under-18s and Under-20s.
“I learned by playing reserve football against men.
“Would I have slipped through the net if Project Brave was in place? I was rejected at 14 by Hibs because I was too small.
“Dunfermline took a chance on me with a YTS at 16 and I worked my way up.”
McNamara had a nightmare spell as manager of York having been sacked at Dundee United previously.
When asked if he would consider being a boss again McNamara said: “I don’t know. The last wee bit was frustrating down the road.
“I know it’s a different animal not knowing certain things with the players and the leagues but I still have a belief I could do well in management.
“Whether I would go back to it we’ll see. I enjoyed a lot of it, I didn’t enjoy the last bit up here for obvious reasons.
“I enjoyed working with the players by improving them.
“I knew how difficult it was going to be going up to Dundee United behind the scenes. I knew what I inherited.
“It’s not portrayed that way but my winning ratio there was good.
“I had to have three different teams in two and a half years to keep doing it and obviously I had no time to bed in another team.
“However, I have no regrets and no bitterness.”
● Jackie McNamara was speaking at a William Hill media event. William Hill is the proud sponsor of the Scottish Cup.