SFA must act quickly and name boss, says McCann

Dundee manager Neil McCann feels appointing a national team boss is now an urgent task after Walter Smith pulled out of contention.

The former Rangers boss had been sounded out about returning to the role he left in 2007, but the 69-year-old opted out on the same day Scottish Football Association interim chief executive Andrew McKinlay handed in his notice after being chosen to lead Scottish Golf.

There is a major power vacuum at the top of the SFA following Stewart Regan’s sudden departure in the wake of his failure to land Michael O’Neill, who yesterday penned a new deal with Northern Ireland until 2024

But McCann feels a new manager must come quickly with friendlies against Costa Rica and Hungary planned for next month.

When told of Smith’s decision, the Dundee manager said: “I don’t know if it’s a surprise. Maybe he just feels he doesn’t want it any more.

“But it’s disappointing because I worked with him for a short time at international level and heard enough top-class pros talk about how good he was.

“I saw the work he did at Scotland so it’s disappointing another good candidate has decided to take himself out of contention.

“But that’s something we need to do – we need to find a manager. It’s difficult when you don’t have a chief executive but the sooner it happens the better.

“I think the manager needs to come first. A lot of people would argue it’s the other way about because a chief exec must pick the manager, but the manager is in control of the situation.

“The chief executive runs the SFA but I would like a manager in and then maybe he has a say with that relationship, because it has to work hand in hand.

“But the manager picks the team and does the tactics and everything else so that’s the most important aspect for me.”

Meanwhile, Hampden has been named as the venue for the Costa Rica game on March 23.

The SFA has priced the cheapest adult tickets at £10 for Scotland Supporters Club members and £15 for non-members.