THE COAST IS CLEAR FOR MALKY
With Regan out of the picture, Wotte believes Mackay is the best man to lead the national team on road to Euro 2020
AMBLE down Stewart Regan’s gaffe-littered memory lane, stop at last November and recall how he torpedoed any hopes Malky Mackay entertained of remaining in contention to become manager of Scotland.
Regan revealed to talk SPORT listeners that there was no chance of this outcome for the caretaker appointment — hours before Mackay was proudly set to take charge of the team against Holland at Pittodrie. His first and last match.
It was a stark indication that there was no Plan B in place if Regan couldn’t acquire Michael O’Neill.
It was also an embarrassment for Mackay, the Association’s performance director who admitted he had no idea he had been ruled out of the running.
With Regan gone, that imposed roadblock to making Mackay the long-term replacement for Gordon Strachan has been removed.
As other Scottish managers under the age of 55 with Premier League experience, David Moyes and Paul Lambert, were secured by West Ham and Stoke while Regan was plodding along in pursuit of Northern Ireland boss O’Neill, it leaves Mackay a very obvious option.
But what of the performance role, for which the former Cardiff City and Watford boss was hired by Regan 14 months ago?
Mackay believes both jobs are doable. The SFA’s very first performance director, Mark Wotte, contends that the 45-year-old ex-Celtic defender represents the glaring solution to the vacancy right under the noses of the subcommittee assembled to unearth a new boss.
Either way, Mackay is right back in the frame for the post.
‘If there is not an outstanding candidate left at the present moment, the safe solution is Malky and then somebody else to implement the performance director strategy,’ says Wotte, who was Regan’s appointment in 2011.
‘They can give Malky their support because he ticks a lot of boxes. If they are looking for someone who knows Scotland inside out, then he’s already there. So why not?
‘He has been around the block in the UK, knows Scotland very well, has worked as performance director. So if you wanted a manager who is buying into all those other projects at different levels, then you already have that.
‘It’s a shame there is no manager in place right now. If you bet on one horse and one horse only, is that ever a good strategy? It was taking too long. Michael did a great job with Northern Ireland and now benefits from a fantastic contract.
‘So, the interest from the SFA was extremely helpful to Michael. That all made life very difficult for Stewart Regan and now for the SFA to fill the job. But already there is a good guy in Malky, who has a lot of qualities.
‘I always like brave national team coaches giving game time to younger players and he did that against Holland. It was a good idea. Malky did very well against Dick Advocaat even in defeat.’
After he named eight uncapped players in his original squad and before giving Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and Ryan Jack their senior debuts in that game, Mackay discussed at length his desire to dictate and establish a new top-class backroom and facilities set-up in the national squad — irrespective of who would be appointed manager.
‘No matter what, going forward, I will be looking after the performance side of the national squad, ,’ said Mackay.
‘In terms of analysis, sports science, medicine and talent ID, I want the best practice at that level — and it should reflect what happens at Champions League level. I’ve enough experience of people who’ve been around that to know exactly what we need.’
Mackay, then, was already intent on having an impact in key senior squad affairs.
His work behind the scenes last year featured a visit to Morocco, where Wotte is now working with national teams from Under-20 to Under-23 level and is responsible for coach education.
Mackay has picked up Project Brave but his efforts to drive through this latest revamping of youth football have met with obstacles that are familiar to the Dutchman.
‘I met Malky when there was a project exchange between our federations and we had a good meeting,’ said Wotte. ‘I know what the difficulties are with his job.
‘My job was three and a half years in Scotland making all the changes. After that, it’s been tweaked into a project and I still sense there is not the support needed from a lot of clubs for some reason.
‘When there’s no consensus between the SFA and clubs, it can be very difficult.’
For all that Mackay’s Scotland managerial job prospects were at the centre of one Regan storm in November, it was the Englishman’s backing that afforded him a route back into the game.
Club chairmen had been wary of the reputation stuck on Mackay as a result of the offensive text message scandal at Cardiff and subsequent FA inquiry.
Wotte, too, was grateful for Regan’s backing and argued that the seven-year stint should not be remembered entirely for failings.
‘The SFA should be thankful to Stewart Regan for introducing the performance project, starting a new era in approach,’ added Wotte.
‘It’s not easy to be chief executive of a small nation with big aspirations.
‘He gave me my job and had confidence in my ability. We got through a lot of changes.
‘Change is always difficult and, in Scotland, there are not a lot of people willing to change.’
They can give Malky their support. He ticks a lot of the boxes