Jackie backs Walter for post

JACKIE McNamara reckons his former Scotland boss Walter Smith will be tempted to return to the role.

Smith, who managed Rangers and Everton, has been earmarked as a potential candidate to replace Gordon Strachan following the failure to prise Michael O’Neill away from Northern Ireland.

The 69-year-old retired from football management in 2011 when he left Rangers for a second ti me but McNamara feels the Scotland job could bring him back into the game.

“It wouldn’t surprise me. If it’s in your blood and you love the game and you’re very passionate, it’s very difficult just to drop football from your life,” he said.

“If you have been so much involved in it from playing to management and other things, it’s part of your everyday life and, to just suddenly stop, it’s difficult.

“I was fortunate enough to work under Walter as a player with Scotland and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him. I thought he was fantastic.

“I t hink he’s a good choice. We have a l ot of good candidates there who could come i n and do a good j ob j ust now and Walter is certainly one of them.”

Smith would be a controversial appointment — he left his role as Scotland boss midway through the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign to return to Ibrox.

But McNamara said: “The importance of qualification is everything. Regardless of the background, it’s j ust about getting us through the next qualifiers. I’m sure the whole nation would be happy.”

Former Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara.