MARK WOTTE
Scotland really need a Harry Potter right now
SCOTLAND’S World Cup qualifying results have been unacceptable.
Gordon Strachan has kept his job, having convinced the SFA Board that he will turn around the miserable start that has delivered just four points from four games, and left his side sitting second bottom of Group F.
But faced with the prospect of missing a fifth consecutive World Cup Finals, all connected with the Scottish game are seeking longterm solutions to its current malaise.
It’s been that way for nearly 20 years, with the Review of Scottish Football, conducted by Henry McLeish six years ago, one of the more recent root and branch investigations into the state of the game.
The former First Minister recommended the appointment of a performance director, and Mark Wotte was first to be handed the role.
Since the Dutchman vacated the position two years ago, Brian McClair has also come and gone, and now the SFA have appointed an employment agency to find the new man.
Norwich City coach, Alan Irvine, and Northern Ireland assistant manager, Austin MacPhee, are believed to be the leading candidates.
Maybe the headhunters should have a word with J.K. Rowling!
Wotte was in the role for threeand-a-half years and several of his ideas were implemented.
But other key things he wanted introduced to Scottish football were not rubber- stamped for a variety of reasons, which saddened and frustrated him.
The 55- year- old reflected: “When I took the SFA job, I said I did not have a magic wand.
“That’s still the case. A Harry Potter character does not exist in Scottish football.
“What must happen is for there to be better relationships between the clubs and the SFA.
“There must be a willingness to go with things and to think of the greater good of the game.
“I read recently that SFA chief executive Stewart Regan said not all of the clubs were behind me.
“Well, that tells you more about the clubs than about me.
“In the past 10 or 15 years, there is evidence in Spain, Germany and Belgium of the clubs and their federations working closely together and having a common goal.
“The clubs had a desire to improve and they embraced the changes by their respective federations.
“When I worked for the SFA, I wasn’t involved with the A squad. I didn’t interfere with Craig Levein’s work or Gordon Strachan’s work.
“I just wanted them to win and be successful. I wanted to see Scotland at the major tournaments and I hope that can still happen.
“I’m sad to see the A squad where it’s at just now.
“Things can change quickly, but there has to be a unity and collective willingness.
“There can’t be self-interest. In the long run, that will not do any good.
“People must listen and be open to change.”
Wotte is now the performance director with the Moroccan Football Federation and sees a collective spirit he feels was lacking in Scotland.
“What we have in Morocco will give us a much better chance of succeeding and putting the foundations in place to serve football in this country well for years to come,” he continued.
“The Moroccan Federation has placed 16 heads of youth coaches into the professional clubs.
“The Federation pays for the salaries.
“It is a secure job because everyone has agreed to buy into the plan for at least three years.
“It’s a project aimed at 2020 for the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
“Of course, we also want to qualify for the next World Cup and African Nations Finals.”
Ironically, Morocco’s last game at a World Cup Finals was a 3- 0 win in St Etienne at France 98, when the opponents were, you’ve guessed it, Scotland.
“They’ve made recent moves to try to improve that state of affairs.
“We have appointed Herve Renard as head coach.
“He is very successful and is a specialist. He will coach our coaches.
“So I’m enjoying life over here. Living in the sunshine in Rabat, near the beach, is pleasant. But I do miss Scotland.
“I had three- and- a- half years there and have happy memories.
“Looking back, maybe I was a
There must be a better relationship between the clubs and the SFA
little too controversial and rattled too many cages.
“But I had Scottish football’s best interests at heart.
“This is now a crucial period for Scottish football and the performance director is a vital role.
“A lot can be achieved, and there shouldn’t be negativity surrounding it.
“The new performance director will need to have excellent social skills.
“He will need to have a mind for business to deal with Government.
“It will also be a bonus to be able to walk into a boardroom and have people like you, and getting them to buy into your plan.
“He will need a first- class philosophy and strategy and be allowed to put it into place.
“He will also need to have the ability to coach and communicate.
“I hope they appoint the right guy.
“I believe Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, has the skillset to be an excellent SFA performance director.
“Sure, I know with what he has achieved with Northern Ireland in the past two years.
“He is destined for bigger and better things in management, but he would be ideal for the SFA.”
There seems little chance of O’ Neill being McClair’s replacement.
However, one of his assistants, Austin MacPhee, is in the running and will be interviewed this week.
The Scot is highly-regarded in the Northern Ireland set-up and has the respect of senior players such as Steve Davis, Jonny Evans, Chris Brunt and Gareth McAuley.
Wotte said: “I’ve met Austin a couple of times and I was very impressed.
“To have him involved in the SFA would be an excellent move.”