PLUS... FORMER CITY BOSS MALKY FAVOURITE FOR SCOTLAND JOB:
FORMER Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay is the joint favourite to succeed Gordon Strachan as Scotland manager.
Mackay is 2/1 along with former Manchester United and Everton boss David Moyes to take over the Tartan Army, after Strachan oversaw a failed World Cup qualifying campaign.
It was revealed on Thursday that Strachan and his assistant Mark McGhee will leave the Scottish national team. Their qualification campaign ended in agony after a 2-2 draw with Slovenia left them third in the group.
Mackay, who left the Bluebirds under a cloud in 2013, went on to join Wigan Athletic before taking up a role as performance director with the Scottish FA last year.
He now tops a list of candidates which also includes Moyes, Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes, Alex McLeish and Sam Allardyce.
Strachan in a statement on the Scottish FA website said: “I said on my first day as Scotland manager that it was the proudest moment of my career and that I wanted to put a smile back on the nation’s face again. I share the profound disappointment at missing out on the play-offs, especially having worked so hard to fight our way back into contention.
“The players should receive immense credit for that resilience in coming back from a difficult start and I would like to thank each and every player who has come in to represent their country.
“Together we have shared some really magical moments and those memories will live with me for ever.
“Of course, what made those moments special was the unwavering support of our fans. Through highs and lows you have stayed with the team and my biggest regret is not being able to provide the finals tournament you deserve.“
Meanwhile Craig Levein, who managed Scotland for three years, thinks patience and self-belief are the missing ingredients Scotland need to find if they are to end their stint in the international wilderness.
The now former Scots boss Strachan raised eyebrows when he blamed the country’s genetic make-up for their failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Levein did not fully disagree with his old international team-mate’s assessment but insists better youngsters are starting to filter through the system.
However, the Hearts manager – who had urged Strachan to stay on for one more campaign – also believes a chronic lack of inner belief and an unwillingness to play the long game when it comes to developing players has held the national side back.
“I spend a lot of time watching youth football and still do and as a nation, the players are improving. They are getting better,” said Levein.
“I really believe that. I know we at Hearts have got better quality than we have had for a while and I know other teams have as well.”