Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Strach still right man says Boyd
GORDON Strachan and the Scottish Football Association are expected to take some ti me to consider t he Scotland manager’s future after their World Cup near-miss.
S t r a c h a n ’s c o n t r a c t expires next month following the national side’s failure to reach the play-offs on goal difference after a 2-2 draw in Slovenia.
A late Robert Snodgrass equaliser ensured Scotland remain unbeaten this year — a run which includes the final six matches of their qualifying group.
Strachan’s side were hampered by i njuries to Scott Brown, Stuar t Armstrong and James Morrison i n Ljubljana, players who could conceivably have formed a first-choice midfield trio.
But the agony of extending the wait to appear at a major tournament beyond 20 years has sparked renewed debate around the manager’s position.
Much of the focus is on team selections in the early part of the campaign, for example ignoring the clamour t o play Leigh Griffiths, who has scored four goals since being given his first start of the qualifiers against England four matches in.
Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd believes Strachan will himself call time on his international reign but believes t he 60-year-old should stay.
“I think he will leave of h i s ow n a c c o rd ,” the Kilmarnock player said. “I think the SFA would want him t o s t ay, t h ey w i l l appreciate the job he has done, but t he criticism Gordon received i n the early part of the campaign, he won’t have forgotten about.
“I’d be very surprised if he comes back for another shot.
“I think he is the right man for the job, you only need to see the way it has been turned around.”