WHAT THEY SAID...
MICHAEL STEWART
‘The whole thing hasn’t been handled particularly well. It shows a poor tactical approach from (chief executive) Stewart Regan and the SFA. The tactics have been a bit naive. They were so blatant in their pursuit of Michael O’Neill that anyone who comes in next knows they are not the number one choice. ‘Time should have been taken with respect to Gordon Strachan — it wasn’t a snap decision to be made then. ‘They were quick with that, but this has been drawn out. ‘It was quite obvious they wanted O’Neill, but to let it drag on so long just made everything seem a bit contradictory. ‘It strengthened the hand of O’Neill, who would probably have got a far better deal with Northern Ireland anyway after taking them to the Euros and then almost to the World Cup.’
CHARLIE NICHOLAS
‘The true embarrassment of the whole situation is not so much Scotland’s, it’s Stewart Regan’s and the people on this committee. ‘We have Mr (Rod) Petrie, who is going to become the next president after Alan McRae. He’s an accountant and they can’t even get the financial deals over the table. ‘The building is open, the doors are open and you can leave when you like. ‘I’m absolutely convinced that we had more than enough Scottish candidates.’
STEVEN THOMPSON
‘The Northern Ireland offer seems to be better than the Scotland offer. Two more years, bigger salary and I think he would be under less pressure with more money. They (SFA) have made it a one-man show with Michael O’Neill. ‘It opens the door for Steve Clarke. He stays at Kilmarnock until May and then becomes Scotland manager because, in that time, there’s a couple of friendlies but it’s not massively important that a Scotland manager is put into place right now. ‘Steve Clarke, to me, sticks out like a sore thumb at the moment. I think it would be right if he stayed at Kilmarnock until the end of the season and then take the Scotland job in the summer. ‘I think it now becomes a very plausible option.’
GORDON McQUEEN
‘I’m surprised Michael O’Neill has turned it down because it’s still a very good job. ‘It’s obviously money — money talks. It’s all about money nowadays and Michael O’Neill hasn’t taken the Scottish job because of that. Plenty of people will be willing to take his place, that’s for sure.’