The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Former assistant backs McLeish as man for Hampden job
Mark McGhee believes Alex McLeish has all the credentials to be considered for a return as Scotland manager.
The SFA will continue their search for a new national team boss after Michael O’Neill decided to stay with Northern Ireland.
McGhee was assistant to Gordon Strachan who departed following the failed 2018 World Cup campaign and is a former Aberdeen teammate of McLeish, who was Scotland boss during the Euro 2008 qualifiers in 2007 before leaving for Birmingham City.
McLeish joins Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes and Kilmarnock’s Steve Clarke among bookmakers’ favourites and McGhee told TalkSport: “I know how much Alex would love to do the job and I know how well qualified Alex is for the job given his experience in it already.
“I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t be seriously considered, he is ready and waiting, have boots will travel.
“The others come into it but they are in jobs, that’s the difficult thing.
“Derek McInnes has gone through this process with several other clubs and declined and stayed at Aberdeen.
“Whether the Scottish job would be too big a draw, I don’t know.
“I suspect it might not at this stage be right for Derek in the sense that he is maybe a little bit too young and he still wants to do something bigger in club football before he goes to a national job.
“Steve Clarke has shown again that he is a brilliant coach, turning Kilmarnock into something better so yes, absolutely,
any of these guys could do the job and it is a fantastic job to have.”
The news comes after some potential contenders for the post secured new jobs during the lengthy process of securing permission to speak to O’Neill, notably new Stoke City manager Paul Lambert and West Ham boss David Moyes.
O’Neill now looks likely to sign a new deal with Northern Ireland.
The 48-year-old spoke with the SFA last week but the Edinburgh-based boss has elected to remain in the post he has held since 2011.
The Irish FA have already discussed improved terms with O’Neill and he now appears set to pen a four-year contract extension to keep him with Northern Ireland until 2024.
I know how well qualified Alex is for the job given his experience in it already. MARK MCGHEE