TALKING SCOTLAND

THE Scottish Football Association will take their time appointing Gordon Strachan’s successor as Scotland manager – and may not bring in a replacement until their opening UEFA Nations Cup match next September.

The SFA announced yesterday that Malky Mackay, their performance director, would be in charge of the national team on a temporary basis for a friendly match against the Netherlands at Pittodrie on Thursday, November 9.

Scotland, who missed out on a Russia 2018 play-off place to Slovakia on goal difference on Sunday after drawing 2-2 with Slovenia away in their final qualifier on Sunday, may also have international challenge games in March and June next year.

However, Stewart Regan, the SFA chief executive, stressed the governing body would not rush to fill the vacant position.

“We might have a new manager in place for those friendlies, but if we haven’t it’s not the end of the world,” he said.

“In order to get the right candidate then potentially we will wait. If we have to do that. It depends on if they are in work or out of work.

“We have already, as you can imagine, had a lot of interest in the role, even overnight, but it is about getting the right person for Scotland. We are prepared to consider that.

“We agreed yesterday that we would start the recruitment process next week. I will lead it and I will be supported by a small number of my board colleagues as a little sub-committee of the board. We will then make a final recommendation to the board once we have considered a shortlist.

“Who that might include, in contract or out of contract, in work or out of work, it really depends on who we feel is the best candidate for the job.

“It would be my preference to try to do it sooner than that, but the next competitive match is September 2018 and it’s about making sure we’ve got the best candidate.

“The Scottish FA will try and get the best possible candidate and we’ll compete as best we can. It would be nice to have the resources of one of the big six FAs, that’s not the case. But we’ll fight for the right person and we’ll do what we can to attract the right person.”

Mackay, who was previously in charge at Watford, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic, has been installed as one of the favourites to take over from Strachan as manager along with the likes of Davie Moyes, Paul Lambert, Alex McLeish and Michael O’Neill.

But Regan stressed the former Celtic and Scotland centre half, who has not yet expressed any in interest in the position, would not be allowed to do both jobs on a fu full-time basis.

“The performance role is a very bi big job and there are some big ch challenges that we want Malky to de deal with and put in place, so it is no not something that we would en entertain,” he said.

“There’s still work to do within th the performance area and that’s ve very much Malky’s focus. We’ve as asked him to do this as a one off an and he has agreed, but Malky has go got a big job to do, he’s working ve very hard and we are very pleased w with the progress he is making.

“It’s too early to comment abo individuals, but Malky has be very clear that he is stepping asi from his day job for a couple weeks in the run up to that gam

“He’ll lead the team for th game but then he’s going to focusing on his performance ro A longer term interest in t manager’s job has not been part the discussion.”

Meanwhile, Regan revealed t SFA had delivered an ultimatu to Strachan after Scotland h slipped to second bottom in Gro F following the 3-0 defeat to En land at Wembley in November –